General English for Adults

This course offers two weeks’ intensive English tuition in speaking, writing, listening and reading, along with a small group of multinational adult learners.  Combined with our full programme of social and cultural activities, this experience is an excellent way for intermediate English learners to make effective improvements on their language skills. 

About the Course

Tutor Profile: Lorraine Collett As a senior ESOL tutor at Oxford, I thoroughly enjoy working all the year round with students who want to improve their English language skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. My own studies include: MA (Applied Linguistics), BSc, PGCPSE, LTCL Dip TESOL, CertEd, CELTA, and these qualifications have given me an excellent opportunity to study English language teaching in depth, and have provided me with the knowledge, techniques and skills to enhance the learning experience. Recently I have become extremely interested and active in literacy teaching and learning, with a focus on the difficulties that some learners have with reading and writing. I am now licensed to practise in dyslexia assessment and support and am a member of the British Dyslexia Association. I have taught on two ORA summer school programmes and it is always a pleasure to come back each year and meet a new cohort of students. ORA never fails to attract interesting and enthusiastic students who match my passion for the English language.

Course Details

This programme includes 15 hours per week of tuition and focuses on improving all four English language skills:

• Writing
• Reading
• Speaking
• Listening

Our multi-cultural English curriculum emphasises these skills through the following components:

• Reading
  Students improve the accuracy of their English by studying grammatical structures, which they use in class discussions and in written responses to readings.

• Writing
  Students learn how to organise compositions and produce various types of texts.

• Grammar & Vocabulary
  An emphasis is placed on the study of grammar in context, vocabulary expansion, and increased fluency.

• Speaking & Listening
  Students study and practise listening and speaking skills by working in pairs, groups, or with a whole class.

Students have the opportunity to discuss current affairs, life in the UK and English in general within the international context. Through a range of language games, competitions, songs and the International Phonemic Alphabet, the students increase their knowledge of English, extend their vocabulary on a wide range of topics (synonyms, formal and informal words). Pronunciation is improved through the use of a phonetic chart, which offers an invaluable guide to standard English pronunciation. The students also revise grammatical forms such as the uses of adjectives, present and past tenses. Essay writing skills are improved through essay writing tasks which focus on the requirements of discursive essays and formal letter writing expressing attitude.