Brief Description:

This Basic English course in Cambridge is aimed at learners who have some basic English, but are not complete beginners. The course will help you to understand and speak English with more confidence and ability. Lessons will focus on language needed for daily life in the UK and topics will include travel, shopping, visiting the doctor, where you live, going to school, sport, and so on. There will be practice for social conversations, and you will improve your vocabulary and learn to speak grammatically. The lessons will include some basic grammar, speaking and listening, pronunciation work, reading and writing. There is no formal exam associated with this course.
The course is funded per term; you may find, as most learners do, that you will need more than one term to be prepared for any higher level courses or future exams (if you choose to enter for them). If this is the case you will be offered the opportunity to re-enrol and pay for another term (or if still available we may be able to fund you again).

Eligibility to gain a funded place:

You must be over 19 years old and have lived in the UK / an EU country for the last 3 years, assessment before placement is essential; please call the office on 01223 712340 for further information and other funding requirements. There will be some paperwork to complete. Learners are encouraged to get help from a friend/family member who can translate wording and the meanings.

Previous Experience and Knowledge Needed?

Some English is needed. An assessment test is needed for placement purposes. To book an appointment call the office on 01223 712340.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Describe places and locations: Use “there is/there are” to talk about rooms, furniture, and places in towns; practice prepositions and weak forms like “there’s” and “there are.”
• Express possibility: Use “can” for possibility and practice word stress and weak forms to describe activities and locations in town.
• Practice shopping interactions: Use polite intonation for offering help and asking questions in shopping situations, and learn vocabulary related to things to buy.
• Understand and use food vocabulary: Differentiate between countable and uncountable nouns with food and drink vocabulary; practice weak forms like “some”, “any”, “a”, and “an.”
• Talk about past experiences: Use past simple tense (was/were) and life story collocations to describe personal history, and practice asking follow-up questions using “did you.”

Extra costs on the course for example text book, materials or equipment:

No course book is required. The tutor will supply you with photocopied material.

For the first session you will need to bring:

Notebook and pen/pencil

Examination Fees:

There is no exam attached to this course

On completion of this course, what might your next steps be?

The tutor will advise you.
The Adult Learn and Train office is also able to give course information or search for alternative courses for you.