Our General English course is a balanced, practical and comprehensive programme designed to improve your English language fluency. We have several course options, which can help you with your language skills for work, study or travel, or as training for a number of internationally-recognised qualifications, such as IELTS.
Our Eastbourne General English course gives you the opportunity to study in and explore the heart of our lovely coastal town, in a warm and friendly teaching environment.
A General English Course provides you with a balanced programme, focusing on the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing English for everyday purposes, whilst covering essential grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, idioms and colloquial language.
It can also provide additional, effective training for students who need English for work, study or travel. In addition, General English helps you prepare for a number of exams including IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, KET and PET.
At ELC Eastbourne we offer an intensive course designed to quickly raise your levels of English language fluency, coupled with more specialised sessions that focus on different topics or prepare you for a number of exams.
* Minimum age: please see more information regarding levels of care and supervision for 16 and 17 year olds in international classes. We occasionally accept 15 year olds in international classes provided they are part of a group with a group leader.
We offer 25 (18.75 hours) or 30 lessons (22.5 hours) of General English per week . In addition to a core morning programme of 20 lessons, we offer the possibility to focus more specifically on your goals with 1 class (on GE25 programme) or 2 classes (on GE30 programme) per afternoon each week.
Afternoon electives include:
Develop your real-life conversation skills and fluency. Improve your pronunciation so that people will understand you better.
Build your vocabulary and learn techniques to remember and use more words and phrases correctly. Practise vocabulary in context.
Preparation for the academic IELTS exam and for university study. Study all 4 IELTS papers, practise listening for lectures and giving presentations.
Training in exam techniques. Study reading, writing, speaking, listening and grammar in use for Cambridge First (FCE) and/or Advanced (CAE).
Introduction to English used in work situations. Focus on making phone calls, language for presentations, meetings and negotiations.
Complete and thorough preparation for the listening and reading exam. Practise exam questions and learn exam techniques.
Please note that electives are subject to availability.
* You need to have an English level of between intermediate and advanced for Academic English IELTS/EAP, Cambridge exam preparation, English for work and TOEIC.
| Course options | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/30 lessons | 09:00-10:30 Core GE lessons | 09:00-10:30 Core GE lessons | 09:00-10:30 Core GE lessons | 09:00-10:30 Core GE lessons | 09:00-10:30 Core GE lessons |
| 25/30 lessons | Morning Break | ||||
| 25/30 lessons | 11.00-12.30 Core GE lessons | 11.00-12.30 Core GE lessons | 11.00-12.30 Core GE lessons | 11.00-12.30 Core GE lessons | 11.00-12.30 Core GE lessons |
| 25/30 lessons | Lunch Break | ||||
| 25/30 lessons | 13.30-14.30 GE lessons | 13.30-14.25 GE lessons | 13.30-14.25 GE lessons | 13.30-14.25 GE lessons | Free time or supervised self-study |
| 30 lessons | 14:35-15:30 GE lessons | 14:30-15:30 GE lessons | 14:35-15:30 GE lessons | 14:35-15:30 GE lessons | Free time or supervised self-study |
| 25/30 lessons | Free time or supervised self-study until school closes | ||||
| 1 ‘lesson’ = 45 minutes. Lessons are usually combined into larger units of time. | |||||
Our General English 25/30 lessons course is perfect for students who wish to quickly and comprehensively improve their general English abilities, while also specialising in a broad range of subjects, or preparing to undertake an exam.
The course requires students to have CEFR ability between levels A1 to C1+. If you are not sure of your level, you can test your English level. Once you book your course, we’ll contact you with a more detailed test and an individual online interview so we can better assess your level and give you advice.
For stays up to 6 months, it depends which country you come from. For all EU and some other countries, you do not need to apply for a visa before you travel. For other countries, you should apply for a standard visitor visa for stays up to 6 months. You can check if you need to apply for a visa before travel. For stays of 6 to 11 months, you need to apply for a short-term study visa before you travel.
On your first day of school please bring your passport, pen/pencil and a notebook/paper. You can also buy some stationery in the school office.
Yes we accept payment with Mastercard or Visa.
Yes, you should get travel insurance. ELC can provide travel insurance and you can add insurance when you book your course. Alternatively you can buy travel insurance in your own country through your local agent.
All students learn in different ways and at different paces, so we are not able to give you a specific answer. Sometimes students expect that they will improve much faster than it is possible. On average it takes around 12 weeks for you to move up to the next level.
Our minimum level is normally elementary. We only take beginners for one-to-one classes.
For stays up to 6 months in the UK, arrivals from Switzerland do not need to apply for a visa but you do need to travel with your passport - an ID card is not accepted.
You can stay up to 6 months and study without applying for a visa. You will need a valid passport and you can use e-gates on arrival at a UK airport. If you wish to study English with us for between 6 and 11 months, you should apply for a short-term study visa. You will also need to pay a health surcharge.
It usually takes about 12 weeks to progress to the next level. There are regular progress tests to check your level and if you do very well in a test, your teacher may recommend that you move up a level.
We can organise a taxi for you and the price (2024) is £115 each way for Gatwick and £160 each way for Heathrow.
You can sign up for social activities and weekend excusions at reception when you arrive at the school. Our full-time social organiser works at reception so you can ask them for more details.
We offer serious study programmes and often get students in their 30s, 40s, 50s and older who succesfully join our General English course. However, we do offer a 25+ course year round in Chester which is suitable for older learners who would like to study in small classes.
We are open on every public holiday except for 2 weeks over Christmas when the school closes for lessons. However some of the administration team will check emails over the Christmas period.
Yes, you can. In the UK it’s very common to pay with contactless in shops, taxis, buses and at school.
The school has buildings built more than 100 years ago with many staircases so it is unfortunately not suitable for wheelchair access.
Our General English courses start any Monday and finish any Friday. You can book a minimum of 2 weeks. Please note that the school is open year round except for 2 weeks around the Christmas period – usually the last 2 weeks for the calendar year.
All study materials are included in your course fees. You can buy additional grammar books for self-study at home if you wish.
No, we don’t have a student car park available. However, there is a public car park about 5 minutes’ walk from the school. The price is around £7 per day.
To study English language, you can study for a maximum of 11 months. You need to apply for a Short-Term Study Visa
Here are a few of our favourite things about Eastbourne, down the road and decidedly different from Brighton.
Eastbourne is along the coast from its louder cousin, Brighton. Eastbourne is a real gem of a town, it's a bit more laid back, and has some serious claims to fame!
Combine General English classes in Eastbourne with one-to-one lessons to speed up learning or to focus on specific topics with a private teacher.
Our English summer classes in Eastbourne for ages 16 to 22 are a combination of serious study and fun excursions and activities.
Study for 24 weeks or more in Eastbourne on this academic year programme where you'll learn as much about English life as English language!
Combine your favourite English school's classes with tuition in your favourite sports and activities in Eastbourne.
Our language learning levels relate closely to how the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) define them, but with a difference which we have found to help our students at Elementary level.
| ELC level | Equivalent CEFR levels | |
|---|---|---|
| A0 | ||
| A1 | ||
| Upper A1 | Lower A2 | |
| A2 | ||
| B1 | ||
| B2 | ||
| C1 | ||
| C2 | ||
We offer an English level test which anyone can take. It involves 50 questions and, depending on your level, will probably take you from 10 to 20 minutes. At the end of it, we will tell you your probable level.
But when you book, we will ask you to take a more detailed and accurate test, to make sure that you start in the class which is best for you.