Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS)

General English The decision to study English is an exciting one, and the English Language Centre at AIS St Helens guides and supports students through this learning process. Our team of dedicated and dynamic tutors in the English Language Centre will ensure students have extremely beneficial and stimulating classes, as well as planned activities and outings after class. >1.000 English as a Foreign Language The General English programme at AIS St Helens aims to guide students through English proficiency step by step. Topical, modern textbooks and an interactive classroom approach are used to support students' learning thoughout the courses. Students are assigned to one of the following classes to ensure they are at the optimum level for progress: •Beginners •High Beginners •Elementary •Upper Elementary •Pre-Intermediate •Intermediate •Upper Intermediate •Advanced > Skills Students are given the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in general class. There is a focus on “real day-to-day” English with topic-based learning and weekly vocabulary and speaking assessments. New Zealand focused text books are used to cover all aspects of General English. > Extra Classes Extra classes run in the English Language Centre after the regular timetable finishes each day. These classes offer students the opportunity to target specific skills, including pronunciation and listening. > Duration 1-50 weeks > Hours General classes: 9.00am - 12.00pm Skills classes: 12.30pm - 2.10pm > Start Dates Any Monday

English for Academic Purposes The English Language Centre runs two English for Academic Purposes courses: EAPI and EAPII. These courses aim to help equip students with the skills they will need for tertiary study in New Zealand. Students interested in academic study would benefit greatly from taking both of these courses as they complement and build on one another, however they can be taken separately.

ㆍEnglish for Academic Purposes I (EAP I) This is a full-time 12 week course designed as a primer to EAP II and aims to introduce concepts necessary for success in internally assessed tertiary programmes. EAP I includes an introduction to academic-style listening, speaking, writing, research and presentations.

ㆍEnglish for Academic Purposes II (EAP II) This twelve week English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course is designed for students seeking an English language pathway into one of AIS St Helens’ certificate, diploma or degree programmes. It is also useful preparation for students seeking to study at English-speaking tertiary institutions. This course has a strong academic focus, and is built around a series of research assignments and seminars which involve such core skills as reading and evaluating, note-taking, summarising, referencing, speaking, listening and use of the library and the internet. These skills are reinforced in the rest of the course, which includes skimming and scanning, speed reading, evaluation of arguments, listening to lectures, and group discussions and presentations. Both writing (academic essays and research papers) and reading (a range of academic texts) are strongly emphasised.

IELTS Preparation The IELTS Preparation course aims to equip students with the skills and strategies needed to undertake the IELTS test with confidence and achieve a result of band 6.0 or above.

ㆍWho should do the IELTS Preparation Course? This course is suitable for international and permanent resident students who are preparing to enter New Zealand and overseas educational institutions and who need to present an internationally recognized assessment of their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Many employers require a similar assessment of a potential employee’s English language proficiency. The New Zealand Immigration Service draws upon IELTS test scores when considering applicants for permanent residency.

ㆍIELTS Course Structure This is a 12 week course, with each week comprising 23 hours. Students will be trained in interpreting and answering IELTS questions. Skills Sessions (two hours) will be topic-based covering the five topic areas most often found in IELTS examinations: health, social issues, technology, education and the environment. The first class of the day covers the four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) with attention given to strategies for the various question types and lots of practice using these strategies. The second class of the day has a topic based approach which includes a strong focus on vocabulary learning and retention. Each week a different IELTS topic is covered, including education, health, social issues, families and environmental issues. Students can expect IELTS style speaking, reading, writing and listening all based on the same topic and are tested weekly on vocabulary. Students learn and support each other in a communicative classroom environment. The IELTS Preparation course aims to equip students with the skills and strategies needed to undertake the IELTS test with confidence and achieve a result of band 6.0 or above.

TOEIC Preparation The English Language Centre offers a six week TOEIC preparation course during skills time. AIS St Helens is an official TOEIC testing centre, and students have the option of taking an official TOEIC test at the completion of their course. Classes develop skills for the seven parts of the test and include several practice tests. There is also a focus on building vocabulary from the main settings and situations that are tested by TOEIC.

ㆍDuration: 6 weeks

ㆍHours General classes: 9.00am - 12.00pm Skills classes: 12.30pm - 2.10pm

ㆍStart Dates * Note that availability of this programme is subject to student demand.

ㆍEntry Requirements Students with an Intermediate level of English or above can join the course. Students will have an interview.

Certificate in English for Tertiary Study The Certificate in English for Tertiary Study (CETS) is a 12 week academic programme built around research skills and is designed to foster independent learning. The course covers note taking, academic language, critical thinking, business writing, presentations and research processes. CETS is based upon NZQA unit standards at Level 3. The Certificate in English for Tertiary Study (CETS) is an academic programme built around research skills and is designed to foster independent learning. The outcomes of the course are as follows: • Students will learn how to take lecture notes, with the emphasis on developing an individualised system. • Students will listen to a range of academic lectures and look at how the language students will encounter in academic lecture. • Students will be shown how critical thinking relates strongly to both the writing and research elements of the course. • Students will learn how to write a business letter, how to structure academic essays and reports and how to summarise and paraphrase. • Students will be guided through the research process. There are 4 research assignments over the 12 weeks. • Students will give 4 presentations (or seminars) to their classmates. • Students will also learn strategies for using body language to enhance their presentations. • Students will also be taught how to deal with large amounts of reading material and will read a wide variety of subjects.

Certificate in Business English (4 weeks) The Certificate in Business English is a four week full time course to provide students with a variety of business vocabulary and terms and apply this language in a range of business settings and situations. This course is extremely useful for students who aim to use English in their future professional careers, especially for those hoping to work in an English-speaking country. The course provides a rewarding challenge for high level students and is integrated through key business topics.