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Academic Semester or Year

Living and learning English abroad is an extraordinary experience. With this programme, you will achieve fluency, challenge yourself and develop long-term friendships with people from all around the world.

Facts

Level

All levels

Course Duration
Minimum 24 weeks
Course start dates

  • Every Monday

Lessons per week

20 lessons per week (not available in the USA)
24 lessons per week (available in the USA and Canada)
30 lessons per week (available in all schools)

Lesson
1 lesson = 45 minutes
Available In
Maximum in Class
  • Malta: max 12 in class
  • Cape Town, Manchester, Brighton,  Boston, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver: max 15 in class.
  • Bristol, Cambridge, London: max 14 in class

This course is suitable for students who

  • want to achieve fluency, accuracy and an active understanding of English across the
    four skills
  • want to move into an Exam Class or the Business Year programme after reaching the required level
  • want to sharpen their critical and
    presentation skills
  • wish to gain experience living and learning in an English speaking country

What can you expect on this course?

Upon joining the Academic Year programme you will:

  1. Sit a placement test to determine your current level of english
  2. Join a class with others of the same level
  3. Meet your teachers, mentor and academic year co-ordinator
  4. Receive your language portfolio, tailored to your own personal needs, goals and motivation for learning
  5. Embark on a first-class english language course, to develop fluency, accuracy and appropriate uses of english across all four language skills
  6. Be provided with excellent guidance, monitoring and feedback throughout your course
  7. Receive continual assessment through class tutorials,homework and regular progress and level tests
  8. Have confidence that your learning is on track and you are fulfilling your English language potential

Leave EC with a qualification
Academic Year 30 students are awarded an EC Diploma at the end of their course, and Academic Year 20/24 students receive an EC Certificate of Merit. Maximise your time and achievements by preparing for and taking an internationally recognised exam, certifying your language level. Get that certification. Get that job. Get that university!

  • Cambridge - Recognised by employers, universities and colleges all over the world IELTS - Required by many universities and colleges worldwide
  • TOEFL - Recognised by more than 8,000 academic and professional institutions
  • TOEIC - Used by over 10,000 companies and institutions in 120 countries
  • worldwide

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Taken by over 25 million English language learners, the TOEFL test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world. It measures your ability to use English at university level and is recognised by over 8,000 institutions in more than 130 countries, including the majority of North American universities.

Electives

Tailor Your Learning

Academic Year 30 students are also able to choose from a varied selection of special focus for their 3rd module, and students will receive a certificate upon completion. Each special focus is four weeks long and builds up to an assessed task or project. Choices include:

  • Comparative Culture and Communication
  • Write Now
  • Basic Writing Skills
  • Media Studies
  • The Language of Music
  • Film Studies
  • A World of Words
  • Get Talking

Personal Language Portfolio
At the beginning of your programme, you will receive this unique study pack. With the guidance of your teachers, your Language Portfolio will help you to maximise your language development by:

  • assessing your personal learning style and offering strategies to build on your strengths
  • evaluating your progress in tests and assignments
  • recording your needs and wants as a learner, alongside the skills, experiences and achievements you have gained whilst on the programme. 

See More of the World

With the EC Multi-Destination Course you can study in multiple EC destinations, with no disruption to your curriculum. We will transfer your records from school to school so there is no break in your learning, giving you the same great language learning experience with optimum travelling potential.

Course books and materials
Explore a sample of our course materials here! Including workbooks, teacher’s notes and more.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)
An IELTS qualification is required by most British, Canadian, Maltese and South African universities, and in some cases, American academic institutions. IELTS is often required by professional bodies and is even needed for immigration to Canada.

Cambridge ESOL Exams (FCE, CAE, CPE)
FCE (First Certificate in English)
An exam of upper intermediate level English – suitable for you if you can confidently deal with a wide range of spoken and written English.

CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)
An exam for advanced users of English. This exam is aimed at people who can use written and spoken English for most professional and academic purposes. It is widely recognised for work or study purposes.

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)
Cambridge ESOL’s most advanced exam is aimed at students who have a high level of English and are able to function effectively in almost every English speaking context.

Tutorials and support
You will receive three levels of support to ensure your time at EC is as successful and rewarding as possible:

Regular one-to-one meetings with your personal mentor, who will provide the academic support and advice you need to succeed. Your mentor will help to guide your learning by setting achievable long and short-term goals, and monitoring your progress throughout your course.

Class tutorials, an additional, personalised layer to your classroom learning. Our teachers pride themselves on being helpful and approachable at all times, but these meetings provide you with a regular opportunity to discuss lesson items, review your private study, and receive specific advice from your class teacher. You will be set extra work to encourage you to address your weak areas, and a reading programme will be set and monitored.

Your Academic Year Co-ordinator is dedicated to serving your academic needs, and to ensuring you are reaching your learning objectives and developing to your full potential.

Additional benefits

As well as all the tuition, personal guidance and support our Academic Year students receive, EC also provides:

  • General and nationality-specific pronunciation clinics
  • P&M – Structured guidance to help with participation and motivation
  • Café Chat – a relaxed forum for students to practise their spoken English in a social context
  • Library stocked with books and other resources, for private study time, personal research and reflection
  • Full calendar of social and leisure activities