The Intensive English Course is the most comprehensive and popular course at CSL Students receive 20 hours per week of intensive instruction, plus flexible after school language and computer lab hours. The school is also open between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for independent study, which is optional and incurs no additional cost. You can join a class on any Monday - there's no need to wait for the beginning of a quarter.
| COURSE LENGTH | 12 week program |
| HOURS PER WEEK | 20 hours per week |
| LEVELS | Five levels, Beginner through Advanced |
| STUDENTS PER CLASS | Average of 6 to 12 students |
By evaluating each student's current level of ability in English as well as proficiency goals, we can custom-design a course for the individual. Progress is constantly monitored to ensure the student's goals and objectives are being achieved.
Level 1 --- Beginners
Level 1 students have very little practical ability in using English. The initial classroom method with these students is aural/oral drill using pictures to develop speaking /pronunciation skills and mastery of basic vocabulary, grammar and survival English.
Level 2 --- Advance Beginners
Level 2 students have a foundation in Basic English. "False Beginners" often begin at this level as they have yet to really activate the grammar and vocabulary they learned in basic English textbooks. Students learn to comprehend spoken English in routine and familiar contexts. Communicating about basic needs and participating in basic conversations is emphasized. In Grammar classes, students practice the various grammatical structures and forms to generate sentences related to personal topics and into short, loosely organized paragraphs. Readings include authentic or adapted narratives and descriptive passages.
Level 3 --- Lower Intermediate
Level 3 students complete the course of grammar, which includes students' first practice with complex grammatical forms. They also develop more skills in comprehending spoken and written English containing some unfamiliar words. They learn to participate in increasingly extended conversation on some unfamiliar topics beyond survival needs. They also learn to understand short reading passages differentiating between fact and opinion with some degree of accuracy. At this level, they also learn to write clearly organized paragraphs with relevant ideas.
EXAMPLE OF WEEKLY CALENDAR (Level 3)
| MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | |
| 09:10-10:30 | Core English Reading & Vocabulary |
Core English Reading & Vocabulary |
Core English Reading & Vocabulary |
Core English Reading & Vocabulary |
Core English Reading & Vocabulary |
| 10:45-12:00 | Core English Grammar/Writing | Core English Grammar/Writing | Core English Grammar/Writing | Core English Grammar/Writing | Core English Grammar/Writing |
| 12:10-13:00 | Culture /Idioms |
Discussion /Pronunciation |
Culture /Idioms |
Discussion /Pronunciation |
Culture /Idioms |
| Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch |
| 14:00-17:00 | Self study LAB Time |
Video Discussion LAB Time |
Self study LAB Time |
Video Discussion LAB Time |
Self study LAB Time |
Schedules are subject to change without notice.
Level 4 --- Intermediate
In Level 4 students enter a more experiential stage of learning. Less emphasis is placed on recognizing and understanding language and more on activation and usage. In addition to continued grammar study, realia and broader vocabulary development are stressed. Students learn to understand increasingly extended conversations, discussions or lectures. They also learn to speak about familiar topics with little hesitation. Reading courses emphasize authentic materials identifying the main idea and making inferences. They also learn to write well-developed paragraphs using various approaches, e.g. descriptive, narrative, comparison-contrast, definition and processes.
Level 5 --- Advanced
Level 5 continues the transition from textbook-oriented skills learning to experiential learning. There is a heavy emphasis on vocabulary development and an introduction to sophisticated reading texts and writing forms. Students learn to understand essential points of discussions or speeches in special fields of interest, communicate about a variety of topics using appropriate syntax; and read authentic material on a variety of topics identifying the main idea, making inferences and drawing conclusions. In addition, they learn to write lengthier and more accurate compositions about previously discussed topics; their own research results, and personal experiences using and expanding the various approaches they have learned at the intermediate level.