General English Program

Resources

General English utilizes the second edition of National Geographic Learning’s Life series, published in 2019. While focusing content around the four receptive and productive skills, it also contains Real Life sections that provide students with the tools needed to successfully navigate various everyday situations in English. Consequently, the vocabulary and expressions covered in the texts are functional and conceptualized, covering both formal and informal language. There are six levels in the series, each with a student book complemented by supplementary materials from a teachers’ book, a workbook, and National Geographic Online.

Assessment

Each level consists of eight weeks of content. In the General English program, students are assessed on a daily basis in addition to unit quizzes and a skills test every three units. At the end of each level, or eight weeks, the students’ grades are examined, and those who maintain an average of 65% or above are graduated to the next level.

Bi-Weekly Overview

Each level is divided into four two week blocks. During the two weeks, students are given a 30 minute quiz that focus on the vocabulary and grammar points after the completion of each unit, for a total of three quizzes. The final 1 hour test is given at the end of the two weeks, targeting the listening, speaking, reading and writing skills developed. Quizzes are given on days 3, 6, and 9 of each block and the skills test is administered on the final day of the block. Students can expect homework to be assigned on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8 to help assess student progress and comprehension.

Entrance and Exit Requirements

Students entering the General English program will follow placement procedure, beginning with a written test online or upon arrival at the school, after which they will be interviewed and placed into their appropriate levels. Successful completion of a level and advancement to the next level requires students to achieve an average score of 65% or higher.