Certificate in International English

Introduction

Certificate in International English caters to students who do not have English as their first language, and would like to improve their command of the language. It will also suit students who have learned English as a first language in an education system in which English was the medium of instruction, but still find difficulty in expressing themselves.

The Certificate in International English course is conducted at four levels - Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced. At each level, the four language skills - Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing will be developed. Common grammatical structures that are used in spoken and written English, and the progression from sentence to paragraph to text in written English will be discussed throughout. Students will learn how to use English in  different kinds of communicative situations and they will gain the skills and confidence needed to use English in every aspect of  life, at work and in social situations.

Course Duration

3 months, Full-Time and Part-Time.

Course Structure

The course consists of four different levels - Elementary, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate & Advanced.

Elementary
This course covers basic English grammar. Students will  write short essays and  learn how to use English in common situations, such as greetings, asking for and giving information, and conducting telephone conversations. Language games and other learning activities are used to reinforce learning and encourage participation.

Intermediate
This course consists of a revision of basic grammar and introduces more complex structures. At this stage, writing skills are emphasised to help students understand the different aspects of written English, in addition to comprehension passages and essays. Students will learn how to express opinions and state arguments clearly, and these skills will be tested in class discussions and debates.

Upper Intermediate
This course is a continuation of the Intermediate course. There will be a stronger focus on vocabulary development that involves learning of new words and applying them in texts. Grammatical syllabus will be familiar to the students, but it will also be contemporary. Every lesson focuses on functional and situational English which will benefit students in real-life situations. Language games and other learning activities are used to reinforce learning and encourage participation.

Advanced
The teaching of complex grammatical structures continues at this level. Newspaper and magazine articles are used as texts to encourage mature thinking in English. Higher-level reasoning skills are the focus of the spoken component of the course. Students will engage in class discussions, and make individual speeches on topical issues.

Edvantage Institute (Singapore) Curriculum Objectives

Proficiency in Oral Language 
Develop effective speaking skills for academic and social purposes including conversations, classroom discussions, short talks, formal discourse and oral presentations.

Proficiency in Listening Comprehension
Be able to listen to and understand the details in various listening contexts.

Proficiency in Reading (including Reading in the Content Areas)
Be able to apply appropriate techniques to read and analyze level texts.

Proficiency in Writing
Demonstrate competence in managing the writing process and producing effective written products.

Proficiency in Social and Cultural Adaptation
In addition to the objectives described above, the underlying objective of the courses is the nurturing of self-pride and self-identity in each pupil’s linguistic and cultural heritage.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the module, students will be able to:

Elementary

  • apply learning in a wide range of situations and context such as at social settings and the workplace
  • ask and answer basic questions regarding self and others in various situations
  • speak clearly and naturally in a confident manner
  • understand English spoken at normal speed by native and non–native speakers without needing to ask for clarification
  • understand and apply key concepts and learning points in the Student Book and Workbook
  • able to fill in registration forms and write simple essays using correct sentence structure

Intermediate

  • talk easily with others in common social situations
  • speak clearly enough to be easily understood by others
  • exchange opinions with others and express own views
  • read and understand the main points of authentic written materials
  • summarise texts using English that is easily understood by others
  • write in simple correct English in a variety of formats
  • understand and use simple English with confidence

Upper Intermediate

  • apply learning in a wide range of situations and context pertinent to everyday needs
  • maintain and engage in conversations with others in various situations
  • speak clearly, naturally and with moderate fluency, in a confident manner
  • understand English spoken by native and non–native speakers without needing to ask for clarification
  • able to complete writing exercises covering a wide variety of genres
  • understand and apply key concepts and learning points in the Student Book and Workbook
  • able to deal with common everyday situations in an English-speaking environment

Advanced

  • discuss a wide range of topics fluently and with increasing accuracy
  • express clearly feelings and opinions and support those opinions with persuasive arguments
  • speak clearly and naturally in a confident manner
  • understand English spoken at normal speed by native and non-native speakers without needing to ask for clarification
  • understand main points in English texts

Delivery Mode

Classroom learning, lessons to be conducted at Edvantage Institute (Singapore).

Entry Requirements

  • 7 Years old and above for Advanced, Elementary and Intermediate.
  • 9 Years old and above for Upper Intermediate.

Teachers

All our teachers are registered with the SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).

Prerequisites

Minimum Age: 8 years and above.

Elementary - Students should be able to speak and understand simple English.

Intermediate - Certificate in International English at elementary level.

Upper Intermediate - Certificate in International English at intermediate level.

Advanced - Certificate in International English at upper intermediate level.

If a student does not fulfill these prerequisites, the student may enter the course through a placement test.

Assessment and Examination

A test is conducted every 6 weeks, culminating in the final course examination. The teachers will write a detailed course report which includes students' grades in listening, speaking, reading and writing, as well as an evaluation of the student's progress in the class.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive an in-house certificate within 21 days from the last day of the course.

Graduation Requirements

Elementary – pass placement test
Intermediate – pass Elementary level or pass placement test
Upper inter – pass Intermediate or pass placement test
Advanced – pass Upper Intermediate or pass placement test

Award

The performance grading will be as follows:

Grades Marks
Distinction 80 - 100
Credit 65 - 79
Pass 50 - 64
Fail 0 - 49
Absent Absent

Course Schedule and Fees

Details of course schedules and school fees can be found here.