General English Certificate
What is General English?
General English courses help students to develop speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, increase their vocabulary and improve their use of English effectively in general, everyday situations, such as shopping, using public transport, or chatting with friends.
Why study General English?
By studying General English courses at any level you can improve your overall knowledge of the language and be more confident using it in various situations. It will help if you are looking for a job, or trying to get a better job. It will also make it easier to integrate into the community and make new friends.
If you are looking to start or continue your education in the UK, General English courses will boost your competence and take you to the level at which you can prepare for an external, internationally recognised English exam and get a Cambridge certificate. For more information on this see Exam Preparation Courses.
What are the levels?
A lot of people have already studied some general English courses or ESOL courses and they are often confused about the different levels and course names. The table below explains which levels are the same and what their code is according to the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR).
| CEFR level | General English | ESOL (National Qualifications Framework) |
|---|---|---|
| C2 | Proficiency | Level 3 |
| C1 | Advanced | Level 2 |
| B2 | Upper Intermediate | Level 1 |
| B1 | Intermediate | Entry Level 3 | A2/B1 | Pre-Intermediate | Entry Level2/Entry Level 3 |
| A2 | Elementary | Entry Level 2 |
| A1 | Beginner | Entry Level 1 |
General English Courses at KKCL
Which courses can I start at KKCL?
We offer English language classes for all levels from beginner to advanced.
How do I know which level to start?
When you come to our college you will do a placement test so that we can put you on the right course.
How will you check my progress?
During your course you will have at least 2 progress tests which will check you progress in vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking. As you get the results, you and your teacher will make an individual learning plan (ILP) for you with targets to work towards. Once you achieve these, you will set new targets to focus on in the future. Also, every 6 weeks you will fill out a self-assessment to see how much progress you feel you have made.
What do I get at the end of my language course?
At the end of your course you will have a final test to assess how much you have learnt. After taking the test students get a certificate which states the course name and CEFR level attained. You can also ask for a report which will list your scores across all test sections and give a description of what you know and can do in English according to CEFR descriptors.
Key Information
| HOURS PER WEEK: | CLASS SIZE: | MINIMUM AGE: | LANGUAGE LEVEL: | COURSE STARTS: | COURSE LENGTH: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 to 15 hours per week (day time and evening) | 12 average, maximum 18 | 18+ | Beginner to Advanced | Every Monday | 12 weeks to 1 year* |
*See Course Structure below.
Our courses cover all aspects of the English language and work on improving your:
- speaking and pronunciation
- listening
- reading
- writing
- vocabulary
- grammar
Course structure
The course runs in 12-week cycles where you can complete one cycle and then decide, if you wish, to continue at the same level for several weeks more to finish the entire extended cycle until you are comfortable with your knowledge and ready to take the test. It normally takes around 150-180 classroom hours to complete a level and move on to the next one.
The course is designed to suit the students’ needs and commitments by allowing you to stay on as long as you need to before you take the end-of-course test.
Materials
For each course you will use a coursebook, workbook, audio, video and web materials, as well as other supplementary materials. You can buy the coursebook at the reception or ask the receptionist to tell you where you can buy it in bookshops or online.
What will I know at when I finish a course?
Here is what you will have learnt by the end of a course:
A1 BEGINNER (Click for More Info):
You will be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. You will also be able to introduce yourself and others and ask and answer questions about personal details such as who people are, where they live and what they do.
A2 ELEMENTARY (Click for More Info):
You will be able to understand simple instructions and participate in basic factual conversations on predictable topics. You will understand basic written information and will be able to write simple sentences and phrases.
A2/B1 PRE-INTERMEDIATE (Click for More Info):
You will be able to express and understand simple opinions, instructions, and needs in a familiar context. You will understand clear and simple texts and be able to write texts conveying personal information.
B1 INTERMEDIATE (Click for More Info):
You will be able to understand and express information and opinions on familiar topics and to follow and engage in simple, everyday conversations. You will understand relatively complex vocabulary from context and will be able to write on familiar topics or predictable matters.
B2 UPPER INTERMEDIATE (Click for More Info):
You will be able to understand and discuss familiar and some specialised topics. You will also understand general information and specific details in a range of texts and genres, determining some unknown vocabulary from context. You will be able to write clear, detailed paragraphs on general knowledge topics.
C1 ADVANCED (Click for More Info):
You will be able to understand, discuss or argue familiar topics, as well as cope with less familiar ones, with moderate fluency. You will understand a range of texts and genres, especially within your area of experience and expertise. You will also be able to infer unfamiliar vocabulary from context. Furthermore you will be able to write well-developed essays and various other text types within your area of experience, displaying a range of vocabulary and sentence structures.
These courses can be taken separately or in conjunction with our exam preparation or further education courses.
