English Lessons at Southampton Language College
At Southampton Language College, we use a mixture of modern and traditional methods of language teaching to help you learn quickly. We place particular emphasis on good vocabulary and provide the speaking practice that you need to survive and improve your life either here in England or anywhere in the world.
Our teachers are well-qualified and carefully chosen for their enthusiasm. You are welcome to have a Free Trial Lesson before you join the college to see if the lessons are right for you. We are confident they will be.
Southampton Language College has a maximum class size of 12 students. Classes sometimes have part-time as well as full-time students in them. We also do not accept under-16s at present. Our English courses in Portsmouth are fully accredited by the British Council.
A general English class covers all skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing), along with the work you need on grammar and vocabulary.
At SLC we believe it is vital to emphasise natural vocabulary with constant recycling of the words and phrases you have learnt. It is not enough that you learn – you need to feel that you are learning.
Here are the levels we offer:
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Study Skills/Tutorial Extra Hour
Sometimes you need more attention from the teacher so that you can work on your communication skills and areas you are not confident on. This extra hour from 13.00-14.00 gives you the chance to do more work on your English and the classes are usually even smaller. This hour can also be used to focus on an examination you are working towards (e.g. IELTS, CAE)
One-to-One Lessons
Some students need to learn very quickly and choose a private lesson with one of our experienced teachers. The good thing about private lessons is that you can choose what you want to focus on (e.g. English for Tourism or Business English). Our prices are excellent value!
Lesson times available
You can study 6, 9, 15, 20 or 26 hours a week, although 20 hours is recommended to most students. 15 hours a week is the legal minimum for those on a student visa. Here is the typical SLC timetable:
Level Placement and your first day
When you arrive at Southampton Language College, we will provide you with a computerised placement test and a spoken interview that will determine your level. The whole process takes about half an hour. We will also provide you with a Student Handbook by e-mail that gives you information about the College and life in Portsmouth in general.
When you arrive in your classroom, your teacher will welcome you and introduce you to the class. We want you to be happy at Southampton Language College, so if you ever have any problems, see your teacher and then the Director of Studies who will be pleased to assist you.
During your course
Your teacher will provide you with regular progress tests so that you can see your improvement. These tests will vary from a quick vocabulary check to a full end of level exam. Typically, you will change your level of study every 3 months, but this will depend on your progress.
At Southampton Language College, it is our policy to check regularly if you are happy here at the school and in your class. We do this so we can constantly improve our service to you.
Finishing your course
In your final week of study, you will receive a simple questionnaire on the school (and on your homestay accommodation, if applicable) so that we can check we have provided a good service to you.
On your last day, you will receive a combined certificate of study and academic report for you to take away with you. You may find this useful if you need to prove your level of English in the future (for example, jobs you want to get or courses you want to study).