General English factsheet

Section 1: Overview

Is this course for me?

This course is for students who want to improve their English but still have plenty of free time.

Lessons will improve all your key skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking.

You’ll gain confidence through total immersion in English.

Key Facts

Available in

Boston
Los Angeles
New York
Brighton
Bournemouth
London
Oxford

Start dates:

Every Monday (first Monday of each month for beginners)
Please check UK and US public holidays

Minimum entry level:

Beginner (Kings Level 1)*

Age:

Duration:

Minimum 2 weeks

Class size:

In the UK: Maximum 14
In the US: Maximum 15

Lessons per week:

In the UK: 20 lessons (15 hours) General English
In the USA: 20 lessons (15 hours) General English + 4 lessons (3 hours) guided study

* If a Beginners level group is not available, you can take 8 hours of one-to-one lessons before joining a suitable class.

Included in the price:

20 lessons per week (15 hours)
Welcome Information Pack
Access to multi-format course materials
Placement test on arrival, weekly assignments, group participation and progress tests
Use of Computer Learning Centre
Free Wi-fi at school
Full access to Kings social programme, with at least two free activities per week
Full access to join Kings’ school clubs and societies
Optional weekly lecture programme
End-of-course certificate (requires minimum 90% attendance)

Section 2: Course structure and content

Your General English lessons will improve your reading, writing, speaking and listening at a consistent rate. Each week, lessons will focus on a different topic.

Key areas covered include:

Communication skills

Conversational language skills
Listening and accents
Reading and interpretation
Writing and presenting

Linguistic resources

Building your vocabulary bank
Fine tuning your pronunciation
Interpretation of texts
Grammar and syntax

Study skills

Note taking and revision
Research skills
Time management and planning
Dictionary work
Learner autonomy

Cultural and personal development

Understanding cultural difference and similarity
Team work and leadership
Presenting an argument
Discussion skills

You will be assigned to your general English class based on your current Kings Level. We have classes suitable for students at Level 1 (Beginner) right through to Level 8 (Advanced), and you will progress up through the levels as your skills improve and your confidence grows.

Sample timetable

Please note:

Sample timetable subject to change. General English lessons may take place in mornings or afternoons in summer.

Placement test, induction, locality walk and ice breaker activities, which take place on the students' first day at Kings, are an essential part of the teaching programme, included in the weekly hours of lessons.

	Mon	Tues	Weds	Thurs	Fri
09:00 – 10:30 (Lessons 1 & 2) General English	Progress test including listening and writing. Individual and group feedback on test.	Grammar Using ‘will’ and ‘shall’ in polite requests. Pronunciation Open and closed questions (intonation). Professional skills Interviews.	Vocabulary Common idioms and phrasal verbs used to describe behaviour. Reading, listening and writing Giving tips on how to behave in different situations.	Listening Understanding how technology works. Functional language Giving instructions. Task-based learning (leadership and team work) Building a bridge.	Grammar review ‘Will’, ‘shall’ and relative clauses. Video Ted Talk: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree. Discussion Beyond right and wrong?
10:30 – 11:00	Break	Break	Break	Break	Break
11:00 – 12:30 (Lessons 3 & 4) General English	Vocabulary Social behavior: Talking about norms and customs. Discussion Understanding cultural differences.	Video Phone addiction. Role-play Asking for and offering help. Study skills Making effective notes.	Real English People in the newspapers today. Grammar Defining relative clauses. Vocabulary Adjectives of character.	Writing An email describing a new invention. Presentations A future without cars.	Vocabulary Diplomatic language Professional skills Giving and receiving feedback.
12:30 – 13:30	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch

Mon

Tues

Weds

Thurs

Fri

09:00 – 10:30
(Lessons 1 & 2)

General English

Progress test
including listening and writing.
Individual and group feedback on test.

Grammar
Using ‘will’ and ‘shall’ in polite requests.

Pronunciation
Open and closed questions (intonation).

Professional skills
Interviews.

Vocabulary
Common idioms and phrasal verbs used to describe behaviour.

Reading, listening and writing
Giving tips on how to behave in different situations.

Listening
Understanding how technology works.

Functional language
Giving instructions.

Task-based learning (leadership and team work)
Building a bridge.

Grammar review
‘Will’, ‘shall’ and relative clauses.

Video
Ted Talk: How to lead a conversation between people who disagree.

Discussion
Beyond right and wrong?

10:30 – 11:00

Break

11:00 – 12:30
(Lessons 3 & 4)

General English

Vocabulary
Social behavior: Talking about norms and customs.

Discussion
Understanding cultural differences.

Video
Phone addiction.

Role-play
Asking for and offering help.

Study skills
Making effective notes.

Real English
People in the newspapers today.

Grammar
Defining relative clauses.

Vocabulary
Adjectives of character.

Writing
An email describing a new invention.

Presentations
A future without cars.

Vocabulary
Diplomatic language

Professional skills
Giving and receiving feedback.

12:30 – 13:30

Lunch

English for life

IELTS Test Centre

English for Exam Success

English for University Success

English for Career Success

Step inside life at Kings. Read our blog.

Learning English

Living in English

IELTS Test Centre

General English factsheet

Section 1: Overview

Key Facts

Included in the price:

Section 2: Course structure and content

Key areas covered include:

Sample timetable

English for life

IELTS Test Centre

English for Exam Success

English for University Success

English for Career Success

Step inside life at Kings. Read our blog.

Learning English

Living in English

IELTS Test Centre

General English factsheet

Section 1: Overview

Key Facts

Included in the price:

Section 2: Course structure and content

Key areas covered include:

Sample timetable

Contact Us

More ways to get in touch

Enquiry form