Advanced English Communication Skills (AECS) is designed to challenge students with advanced language skills to strengthen their speaking and listening abilities. This course is the most advanced General English course.
You will learn using a wide variety of study materials including advanced English course books, real-life television, radio shows and movies, magazines, journals, books and the internet. The course will include a class project which can involve writing and performing a live play, directing and filming a documentary or producing individual video diaries (digital stories).
This course will enable you to:
- Improve your ability to understand native speakers
- Improve the accuracy and fluency of your pronunciation
- Increase your vocabulary and knowledge of common English phrases
- Refine your ability to use English grammar accurately
- Expand your general knowledge of world issues and current events
- Understand a range of real-world listening and reading materials
- Write extensively and creatively on topics of interest.
Course Content
Course modules include:
- Integrated skills - development of speaking, listening and grammar skills.
- Advanced reading - improved reading speed, increased reading fluency and increased vocabulary.
- Advanced writing - planning and writing complex tasks
- News and world affairs - newspapers, magazines, the Internet, TV and radio are used to develop listening, reading and discussion skills.
- Project work - the class works together to write and produce a group project.This class is particularly useful for building confidence in using English and improving pronunciation.
- Film appreciation - by watching short film segments or one film over the course, students develop their listening skills and their ability to discuss films in depth.
Course details
Level
Completion of UQ-ICTE GE Level 6 with strong speaking and listening skills or one of the following sets of test scores:
- IELTS: 5.5 (Speaking & Listening: 6; Reading & Writing: 5)
- TOEFL iBT: 70 (Speaking: 19; Listening: 17; Reading: 12; Writing: 15)
- TOEFL PBT: 530 (Listening: 54; Reading: 46; Writing: 55/4)
- PTE: 49 (Speaking & Listening: 60; Reading & Writing: 42)
Fees
Find out more about our tuition fees.
Length
5 - 15 weeks in 5-week blocks. Students usually study for 10 weeks at each course level. If you already know your English level and what you want to achieve, work out how long you may need to study English to reach your goal.
Dates
Start dates are throughout the year. View dates.
Hours
Full-time: 20 hours per week in class.
You will be placed in a morning or afternoon class.
Morning: 8.15am-12:45pm
Afternoon: 1pm - 5.30pm
Class size
Up to 18 students
Laptop
We recommend that you bring your own laptop.
Testing
Your teachers will provide informal feedback throughout the course. Formal tests on speaking, writing, reading and listening are held at the end of every 5-week session. Read more about assessment and certification.
Related courses
To develop English skills for a specific purpose, you may progress to:
- English for International Business Communication
- English for Academic Purposes
- Apply for a package offer to enter a degree program at UQ
- Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages