Intensive English factsheet

Section 4: Special Interest Groups

Our Special Interest Group (SIGs) classes open up endless possibilities.

Eight lessons each week of SIG classes are included in the course price.

Use them to develop your specialist skills in English, or gain experience in specific subjects which interest you.

SIGs for Fluency and Experience

Pronunciation

• This speaking skills class will help you speak more clearly and naturally.
  
• It will guide you from controlled practice to communicative interaction
  
• You will develop the most important parts of spoken English, such as stress, rhythm, and intonation.
  

Vocabulary Development

• This class improves your reading skills and vocabulary
  
• You will work with academic materials and learn valuable words from the Academic Word List.
  

Conversation Skills

• This SIG improves your speaking.
  
• You will learn common idioms, phrases, and modern expressions.
  
• You will also improve your listening and speaking by acquiring conversational vocabulary.

Group Discussion

• This SIG covers important topics that are debated in American or British society.
• You will learn how to apply abstract ideas, think critically about what you learn, and exchange your respectfully. All in English!

Elementary Skills

• On this SIG, you will focus equally on writing, reading, listening and speaking.
  
• You are given the language training and practice you need to become a skilled and confident communicator.
  

British Culture and History

• This SIG looks at British history, literature, philosophy, law, etiquette and the British education system.
• You will visit places of interest, whilst also improving your English
  
• There is a focus on spoken fluency and reading skills.

Survival English

• This SIG is for beginners will very little English.
• It provides specific support in the daily functions necessary to “survive” in the UK or US.
• You will develop your everyday spoken English skills and your cultural awareness through thematic study.

Discussion Skills

• This SIG focuses on English used to agree and disagree, negotiate, suggest, clarify, summarise or any other type of discussion.
• It also develops your listening skills and the accuracy and fluency of your pronunciation.
• You will explore the differences between how discussions are conducted in English and in your own culture.

American Culture

• This SIG looks at American views on religion, business, government, race relations, education and family
• You will develop more advanced vocabulary and refine your English skills.

Drama

• This SIG focuses on English in the context of drama.
• Your existing dramatic knowledge in English will be expanded and you will develop your skills in play writing, acting and directing
• You can work together in class to produce and perform a short dramatic piece.

Cinema and Television

• This SIG improves your oral skills and your understanding of English-speaking culture by analysing films and TV shows.
• You develop idiomatic language and vocabulary while understanding dialect differences and social communication.

Music

• This SIG introduces the musical genres and styles of modern US or UK.
• You will develop your language skills by exploring your own musical interests.

Speaking, Drama and Pronunciation

• This SIG will develop the clarity and fluency of your spoken English through a range of drama-based activities.
• You will focus on pronunciation - from individual sounds, to words, phrases, sentences and on to longer stretches of speech.
• You will gain the knowledge, skills and practice to use spoken English in a variety of contexts and purposes. You’ll learn to speak with clarity, precision and emotional expressiveness.

SIGs for Professional Success

Business Fluency

• You will develop skills in reading, listening for information and note-taking
  
• You will learn to use important words and phrases accurately when discussing business topics, and apply your knowledge in re-creations of business situations
  
• You will also learn to recognise cultural differences.

English for Work

• This SIG improve your knowledge and confidence with language in a business context.
• You will develop new vocabulary related to work, learn useful spoken phrases and work on pronunciation
• You will learn useful language for writing reports and emails, read and listen to business language, give presentations and role-play business meetings.

Marketing and Digital Media

• This SIG focuses on the language of marketing, digital media and new technologies.
  
• You will cover social media marketing, digital strategy, branding and advertising, as well as business and marketing terminology.

Legal English

• This SIG introduces you to the essentials of legal English.
  
• You will cover different types of law, including contract, criminal and international.
  
• You will also develop legal vocabulary and the skills needed for the legal profession.
  
• You can also experience the practice of law through regular educational visits.

SIGs for Exam Success

Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

• You will have extensive guidance on the specific requirements of each of the four sections in the exam.
• You will have a range of practice tests and detailed feedback on your performance.

Masters Preparation

• This SIG is for students intending to study a Masters degree at an English-speaking university.
• It combines an intensive focus on academic English with the skills you need for graduate-level success.
• You will produce a range of academic texts, including research projects and a mini dissertation.

IELTS Preparation

• This SIG provides a complete overview of the IELTS exam and the requirements of each of its four parts.
• You will be trained in the skills needed to fully achieve your exam potential.

TOEFL Preparation

• This SIG introduces the four sections of the TOEFL exam – listening, reading, speaking and writing.
  
• If you are not yet at the level needed you will benefit from practicing
  test areas in simpler language.
  

Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)

• This SIG gives extensive guidance on the specific requirements of each of its four sections Cambridge English: Advanced exam
  
• You will have a range of practice tests and detailed feedback on your performance.
  

Cambridge English: First (FCE)

• This SIG gives extensive guidance on the specific requirements of each of its four sections Cambridge English:First exam
• You will have a range of practice tests and detailed feedback on your performance.

SIGs for University Success

Masters Preparation

• This SIG is for students intending to study a Masters degree at an English-speaking university.
• It combines an intensive focus on academic English with the skills you need for graduate-level success.
• You will produce a range of academic texts, including research projects and a mini dissertation.

Academic Reading and Writing

• This SIG gives you a complete overview of the conventions of academic English - grammar, vocabulary and format.
• You will develop skills to produce and fully understand a range of academic texts.
  

Pre-IELTS

• This SIG introduces the format of the IELTS exam the academic language and skills you will need - both for the exam and for further academic study.
• You will benefit from practice tests and detailed feedback.

Reading and Writing

• This SIG will support you in your reading and writing.
  
• It addresses the vital role literacy skills play in effective communication and ongoing language development.
• You will explore the conventions of written English through a variety of texts and will have ongoing feedback on your written work.