ATC Language & Travel offers a comprehensive range of English Language courses including General English, Business English and Examination courses - Cambridge, IELTS, TOEIC and Teacher Training. Our General and Intensive English classes are available year round with courses commencing each Monday.
Teaching Staff
ATC has a team of highly experienced, well trained and expertly qualified teachers, all dedicated professionals in their field. ATC also caters for students with specific requirements, including English for Advertising and Marketing, Business, Engineering, Insurance, Law, Military, Medicine and Teaching that can all be arranged on request.
Course Curriculum
Our curriculum for both General and Intensive Courses is based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and focuses very much on student-centred learning. Our teachers use methodologies such as CLT (Communicative Language Teaching), TBL (Task-Based Learning), and CLL (Cooperative Language Learning) which aim to develop our students' communicative skills and deepen their understanding of the English language. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages describes six levels of language ability, from A1 up to C2. Students are accepted to ATC at all levels, from Beginner (level A0) and Elementary (level A1) up to Advanced (level C1) and Proficiency (level C2).
Testing
On arrival students are given a placement test which includes a written and oral needs analysis. They are then placed in a class appropriate to their ability and needs.
Class Placement
Each lesson is one full hour (60 minutes). Classes are available at all levels year round. ATC classes hold a maximum of 14 students, but you can expect an average of 8 to 12 students in class at most times of the year. There are usually between 12 and 16 nationalities in the school at any one time, so you can expect a truly international mix. Class times are divided so that students receive lessons from more than one teacher, two per morning allowing them the benefit of more than one voice and teaching style and having a team of teachers liaise on their learning paths. A variety of classroom layouts suits different learning styles.
Progress
Progress tests are done in class on a regular basis and in negotiation with teachers and the Director of Studies. ATC aims to see students improving at a rate of one level per 80-120 hours, although learners may differ in this; it may take one student 4 weeks, another 8 weeks to improve. We use the CEF to help teachers and students to navigate their progress, and we can recommend extra work to be done in the self-access study centre to promote it.
Certification
All students receive a certificate of attendance on completion of the course, which includes a short didactic report signed by two teachers. All ATC reports include the number of hours studied, which may be used for educational credits on return to education establishments at home.
General English (20 hours per week, 60 minutes per lesson)
Monday to Friday (09:00-13:30 including a break 11:00-11:30)
The General English course syllabus is based on a 12 week cycle, during which time student’s progress through a set course book at the relevant level with the guidance of a highly qualified teacher.
Intensive English (26 hours per week, 60 minutes per lesson)
Tuesday and Thursday (14:15-17:15)
The Intensive English syllabus course syllabus is based on the need for practice in fluency and accuracy in spoken English.
Includes the General English programme with an additional 6 hours a week taken over two afternoons with a focus on discourse structures on conversation.
