General English & English Extra

Our General English and English Extra is a full time English language course with flexible entry for international students wishing to improve their English language skills. The course can enable students to progress to:

• Level 5 courses at Blackburn College
• Degree level courses at University Centre at Blackburn College and other UK universities

All of our English language courses are delivered by fully qualified language teachers (CELTA/DELTA qualified). Maximum group sizes of 15-20 students.

You will study 13 hours general English a week which includes coverage of:

• Grammar – explanation and practice of using the main features of English grammar
• Vocabulary – the language of real-life English, from social English to formal and academic styles
• Reading – comprehension and research tasks based on a variety of texts and topics
• Writing – instruction in writing techniques and practice in writing a range of formal and informal texts
• Listening – development of listening skills and practice using authentic and recorded examples
• Speaking – focus on improving accuracy and fluency when speaking

You will study 3 hours ‘English Extra’ – 6 week rota system containing the following sessions:

• Business English
• ICT and research with English
• Discussions, Debates and Current affairs
• English for Academic purposes
• Grammar/Pronunciation and Communication
• English with Customer Care & Retail

You will also have 1 hour per week will be dedicated to tutorial. This will involve:

• Induction to the college and course
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses in language use and setting targets for improvement
• Work on individual targets to develop self-study skills
• Additional weekly homework and tasks on our virtual learning environment to further promote self-study and development.

The course consists of 17 hours contact per week plus 13 hours non-contact self –study via our Virtual Learning Environment.

Age Limit

18 years and above

Entry Requirements

We will assess your level of English and place you in the appropriate level class.

Length of Course

Students can choose to study for a full academic year (36 weeks) or one or two semesters. The minimum study duration is 2 weeks. Entry onto the course is on Monday only.

Assessment

Every student will undertake a Blackburn College final assessment and some will have the opportunity to take an internationally recognised qualification such as Cambridge PET or FCE (dependent on students studying a minimum of 1 term).

Awarding Body

University of Cambridge ESOL Exams

Cost of Course

International Students p/w £120

EU Students p/w £75

Full Year costs

International – £4680

EU – £2160

(This includes tuition, classroom materials, resources via our Virtual Learning Environment. Prices do not include accommodation, food or social activities).

If you prefer to study more or less than 17 hours per week please discuss this with our International Department who can generate a timetable to suit your requirements.

Visa information

To study on this course, you will need to apply for a Student Visitor Visa.

Accommodation

We have a wide variety of accommodation options available to you here at Blackburn College, from our halls of residence to privately managed houses, flats and apartments. Whichever option you choose you will be guaranteed the accommodation will be of a high standard as all the landlords we work with are committed to the Colleges “Landlord Registration Scheme.”

For further information and help contact the Accommodation Liaison Officer on 01254 292423 or accommodation@blackburn.ac.uk.

International Office Contact

Telephone +44(0)1254 292356
Email: international@blackburn.ac.uk