...EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE ...EXPERIENCE EXCEL
EL EXC LISH
ENG COLLEGE
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CHRISTCHURCH | NEW ZEALAND | WWW.EXCELENGLISH.CO.NZ
WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND
• • • • • • •
Maori name is Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud) welcoming and safe destination small population (4million) modern and innovative education system vibrant and diverse multicultural society magnificent & varied scenery, uncrowded environment stable social and political system
OUR CITY CHRISTCHURCH • • • • • •
population of 400,000 world quality educational institutions modern vibrant inner city international airport economical reliable bus service close to ski fields and sandy beaches • mild climate – mean temperature Jan 22*C (summer), July 10*C in (winter)
WENDY CHEN (Taiwan) “It was great to have been able to join the small, very warm and lovely Excel English College. I had lovely teachers and classmates and enjoyed spending time with them and have many fantastic memories of them all. I know I will be back and visiting them again soon!”
SHU SHIMADA (Japan) “When I talk to someone about my time in New Zealand I can’t avoid talking about Excel. It has been a huge part of my life. I spent a lot of time at the school not just because of my study but because the teachers and other students are humorous, friendly and it’s like a big family. If you join Excel I know you will have a lot of fun!”
OUR COLLEGE Excel English College is located in the Christchurch central city, close to transport, shops, library, cafes, banks, botanical gardens and eating places. Excel is friendly, not too big and is often likened to a big family. Students from around the world come to study at Excel so it is truly an international school.
OUR TEACHERS The teachers at Excel are well qualified and experienced. They are specially chosen and provide a caring and friendly learning environment. Dedicated teachers give individualized care to each student and provide interesting and fun lessons.
OUR COURSES • GENERAL ENGLISH • TOEIC • HIGH SCHOOL PREPARATION • TESOL • STUDY TOURS • CAMBRIDGE EXAMS • IELTS • TOEFL
OPTION 1
OPTION 2
OPTION 3
FULL - TIME GENERAL ENGLISH
PART - TIME GENERAL ENGLISH
PART - TIME PLUS
25 hours per week Monday - Friday 9am – 3pm daily
15 hours per week Monday - Friday Mornings 9am –12pm
The same as Option 2 Plus 2 afternoons of conversation classes
GENERAL ENGLISH You can begin your course on any Monday (except public holidays) and your course can be any length from 1–48 weeks or longer. All students are required to complete a placement test to assess their English level before starting class.
UNIVERSITY POLYTECHNIC TERTIARY INSTITUTES
ADVANCED
UPPER INTERMEDIATE IELTS
INTERMEDIATE
PRE-INTERMEDIATE
ELEMENTARY
BEGINNER
CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION Excel English College can help you choose and assist in your application to enrol for further study at universities and other Tertiary Educational Institutes.
JIRI TZRIL (Czech Republic) “I had a really good time at Excel school. The teachers are very friendly, helpful and funny and my English improved a lot. I also enjoyed the activities especially jet boating. Now I am back in my country and I miss Excel English College so much!”
MI-SUN KANG (Korea) “During my time of study at Excel I really enjoyed my NZ life. I loved the school activities which were absolutely cool, I didn’t have any time to feel bored. I never had such wonderful experiences like these before. I learnt from great teachers and made international friendships at Excel. It was exactly the experience I was looking for in NZ.”
COURSE OUTLINE
morning session 1
morning session 2
Grammar, vocabulary and reading focus, following course book with some supplementary materials
Grammar, vocabulary and reading (continued from session 1)
9 – 10.40am
11 – 12pm
lunch
afternoon session 1
Many of our Listening and speaking students eat in focus - often doing the College and project work or looking practise speaking at useful or functional English with language. The classes each other also include pronunciation work each week
12 – 1pm
1 – 2pm
afternoon session 2 More listening, speaking and pronunciation work (continued from afternoon session 1)
2.10 – 3pm
3 – 5pm self study and computer study facilities
ALL ENGLISH COURSES INCLUDE • • • • • • • • • •
Expert tuition by well-qualified and experienced teachers Fully comprehensive course books Supplementary current high interest materials for further practice Practise of all four skills; reading, writing, listening and speaking Lessons with plenty of variety of activities and exercises Lessons in the computer room Pronunciation work • Small classes Weekly progress tests • Visits, college trips and guest speakers Written report based on the student’s attainment and attendance during the course Certificate of achievement on completion of the course
ACADEMIC ENGLISH Excel offers preparation courses for a range of International English Language Examinations: These courses all focus on the development of spoken and written English as well as the specific skills and knowledge needed for each examination.
• INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATION COURSES COURSE
TITLE
ENTRY LEVEL
IELTS
International English Language Testing System
Intermediate
Is taken by students who require some sort of proof of English Language ability before studying at a university or for immigration purposes.
TOEFL
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEIC
Is widely used by universities and business schools across the English speaking world. Test of English for International Communication Shows general English ability for work and business
TESOL
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Upper Intermediate
Intermediate Upper Intermediate
• CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION COURSES
PET
Preliminary English Test Shows a basic competence in English for employment.
Lower Intermediate
FCE
First Certificate in English Shows competence in English for employment.
Upper Intermediate
RONALD BOR (Kenya) “I have really enjoyed my stay here at Excel. My English proficiency has greatly improved thanks to the teachers who were always there to help. I got the chance to meet with students from different parts of the world and this was a great experience for me.” Ronald studied IELTS with EXCEL before gaining a 7.0 score. He then did a nurse conversion training course and now works full time in Christchurch as a fully trained nurse.
JANE PATTANASETTANON (Thailand)
“I studied at Excel for 4 months and I had a very positive experience with this school. Now I can speak English very well with my clients at work because of my time studying. Excel gave me many good experiences, making me brave and most importantly letting me get to know many good people. Good teachers, good friends and good times. Excel is brilliant. My life is brilliant because of Excel!”
SCHOOL FACILITIES Here at Excel we like students to think of the College as their ‘second home’ so we offer the following facilities for use. • Student kitchen includes free tea and coffee, morning tea with biscuits, microwaves to heat lunch, an oven and full kitchen facilities as well as bowls, plates, and utensils. • Computer room has modern computers with free high speed internet access for email and web browsing. Wireless access is also available in the College free of charge for students wanting to bring their laptop from home. The computers have students’ own language ability, language learning programmes and are used for class lessons. • The Common Room offers students a place to relax, eat lunch or watch a movie. On Fridays we meet here to welcome new students, farewell those graduating and also talk about the coming weekend and week’s activities. Activity and travel information is also available.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS It is important to have a friendly, clean, secure home for you to stay in when you are studying in Christchurch. Our Pastoral Care Manager is happy to give you advice, inform you of the choices, find and arrange your accommodation. Students 18 years and over have a choice of living styles: • Homestay is the best way to improve your conversation English quickly. Our homestay families are interested in you and in making you as comfortable as possible. On enrolment, let us know your preferences and we will match you with a family that suits you. All homestays are assessed and monitored for their suitability. • Apartments are generally located in the centre of the city and can vary greatly in price. This depends on the range of services provided. You can choose to live alone or in a shared house arrangement. In most cases all your bedding and living supplies are provided. • Renting a house or flatting is very common in NZ. You can choose whether you join an existing flat or set your own up with other students. It is a great way to meet Kiwis and live independently. However, you will need to be able to cook or willing to learn!
ACTIVITIES Have fun. Join an activity. Excel English College offers an extensive activity programme each month. We understand that students are looking for more than just study options and want to experience New Zealand’s culture, interact with other students outside the College and see some of the spectacular scenery that NZ has to offer. Each week we offer activities of varying costs for students to choose from. Some of these are listed below.
• Canoeing • Maori bone carving • Rugby games • Sports • Indoor rock climbing • Beach visits • Horseriding • Big screen movie afternoons • Coffee & conversation
On the weekend students can also choose to join special day or overnight tours to enjoy activities such as Hanmer Springs hot pools, whale watching in Kaikoura, Mount Cook or the wild West Coast. All of these activities and more are provided by a company that specialises in student tours. Excel staff are always happy to talk to and advise students about travel options after their time of study.
ABDULLAH ALMANSOUR (Saudi Arabia)
“I wish there were seven days to study each week so that I could go to Excel every day. I really enjoyed my time at Excel with lovely teachers and staff. If you have the chance to study in Christchurch you don’t need to consider studying anywhere else – Excel is the place where you will have great memories.”
NORIKO KUSAKA (Japan) “If you would like to experience a friendly school and have lots of opportunities for an outgoing life while in NZ, I would suggest Excel is the best school for you! I made many friends from diverse cultures and my study helped me prepare for my work experience.” After studying at Excel, Noriko found work as a hairdresser in the city centre and regularly visits the school and joins in activities.
STUDY TOURS Study Tours English Language Study Tours are a fun and effective way to learn or improve your spoken English. Students have English language classes in the morning and an interesting, fun, learning activity in the afternoon. At Excel we can plan and build a programme for any length of study with a variety of activities. With many years experience in running Study Tours we know we can build a programme to suit your needs. An example of this is English plus golf. Working holidays Because Excel is in the centre of the city, many of our students work while they study. Many past students continue to work in Christchurch and often return to Excel to share information about work opportunities with current students. At Excel we help you to prepare your CV and assist you in preparing for interviews, give advice on contracts and give guidance on where to look for work. Some examples of work opportunities are – shop assistant, café work, hotel / motel work and hairdressing. Farmstays Studying English is not the only reason that students choose to travel abroad to learn. English Students want to participate in and experience the culture they choose to study in. For this reason here at Excel we offer students the opportunity to experience life on a farm. You have the opportunity to see new lambs in spring, help with feeding the sheep and other animals and help with the daily work on the farm. The stays can be from one night through to an entire week and can be arranged anytime during your study. Voluntary Work Another programme that Excel English College offers is Volunteer work placement. This is a wonderful way for students to see first hand how places such as a child care centre or retirement home operate in New Zealand. The students will come and study for various lengths of time and then go out to the work place. While in the work place we continue to have contact with both the student and place of work to provide the necessary support.
WHY CHOOSE EXCEL ENGLISH COLLEGE? Central city location High quality, highly qualified teachers Friendly ‘family like’ atmosphere Large, varied activity programme Free high speed internet & wireless access Free morning tea Links to tertiary institutions Christchurch New Zealand is a safe and friendly place to study Great value for money
...EXPERIENCE EXCELLENCE ...EXPERIENCE EXCEL YU CHEN (China) “Studying at Excel is like being part of an international family. Not only the students but the teachers also are part of this family. They take the time to get to know the students and share their lives with them. It is truly a wonderful place to study.”
MATTHEW CASTY(Switzerland) “During my 3 months of study at Excel I had a very good time! The city is nice and not too big, the school with its familiar atmosphere made it possible to make friends with people from all over the world and the well chosen homestay family was really very friendly. We had a lot of fun together, especially during the well organised Friday afternoon activities. I also studied seriously during the lessons and learned a lot.�
STUDENT SUPPORT, GUIDANCE & CARE CODE OF PRACTICE Excel English College has agreed to observe and be bound by the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students published by the Ministry of Education. Copies of the Code are available on request from this College or from the New Zealand Ministry of Education website at www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international
IMMIGRATION Full details of visa and permit requirements, advice on rights to employment in New Zealand while studying, and reporting requirements are available through the New Zealand Immigration Service, and can be viewed on their website at www.immigration.govt.nz
ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH SERVICES Most international students are not entitled to publicly funded health services while in New Zealand. If you receive medical treatment during your visit, you may be liable for the full costs of that treatment. Full details on entitlements to publicly funded health services are available through the Ministry of Health, and can be viewed on their website at www.moh.govt.nz
ACCIDENT INSURANCE The Accident Compensation Corporation provides accident insurance for all New Zealand citizens, residents and temporary visitors to New Zealand, but you may still be liable for all other medical and related costs. Further information can be viewed on the ACC website at www.acc.co.nz
MEDICAL AND TRAVEL INSURANCE International students must have appropriate and current medical and travel insurance while studying in New Zealand.
EXCEL ENGLISH COLLEGE Excel English College Level 2 – 112 Hereford Street Christchurch, New Zealand P.O. Box 2132 Christchurch, New Zealand Phone +64 3 962 1140 Fax +64 3 962 1141 admin@excelenglish.co.nz www.excelenglish.co.nz
www.excelenglish.co.nz Excel English College is NZQA Registered as a private training institute by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Excel English College is a member of Education Christchurch New Zealand. PHOTO CREDITS: FRONT COVER: Dave Phipps BACK COVER: Jocelyn Carlin (Kiwi), Kieran Scott (BBQ), Jan Trafford (Kayakers) PAGE 4: Adventure Films (Pohutukawa)