ELICOS and English courses
ELICOS pathway to Box Hill Institute certificate and diploma courses
Students wishing to enter Box Hill Institute courses at both certificate and diploma level need to study at either upper-intermediate or advanced level in Term 2 or Term 4, and meet the English Language requirements for vocational study.
Download ELICOS Brochure.
Curriculum
ELICOS students develop their English language skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Students in General English courses practice English in social and personal contexts and prepare their English language skills for further study. General English courses use ‘New Headway’, ‘Just Right’ or 'Cutting Edge' English language textbooks as core texts.
Students in Further Study develop their English language skills in preparation for tertiary studies at Australian TAFEs and universities.
Further Study courses use ‘New Headway’, ‘Just Right’ or ‘Cutting Edge’ English language textbooks as core texts.
The Independent Learning Centre (ILC) has additional learning resources that students may use throughout their course. Teachers may direct students to use the resources or students may use them for study during scheduled times.
IELTS preparation in Further Study classes
These classes assist students to:
- improve academic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
- become familiar with the IELTS test format
- develop language and skills required to be successful in IELTS tasks
- practice test techniques under timed conditions.
Methodology
The ELICOS centre combines teacher-directed and student-centred learning.
Language skills are developed using communicative and integrated techniques. Specific skills such as grammar and vocabulary are contextualised and lead to authentic language practice.
Classes use teaching materials specially prepared for the English language classroom as well as authentic materials whenever possible. These include language textbooks, CDs, computer software, newspapers, and videos.
Only English is spoken in the classroom.
Assessment methods
Students are assessed at orientation using the Box Hill Institute entry placement test and interview and placed in the appropriate class level.
Other English language proficiency tests such as IELTS and TOEFL are taken into consideration when placing students. The Box Hill Institute offshore pre-entry test should only be used as a guide in determining class placement.
Teachers are responsible for assessing students’ progress. Assessment methods include:
- listening, reading, writing and speaking
- in-class activities
- homework tasks
- formal and informal class tests
- interview with a staff member
- pair and group work
- research assignments
- Computer Assisted Language Learning tasks (CALL)
- level of participation in class work and class activities
- end of course tests.
As well as attending classes and participating in all set work, students develop their English language skills outside the classroom, such as reading newspapers, watching television and having conversations in English.
Important information for students on a student visa
It is a condition of enrolment that student visa-holders maintain 80% class attendance and make satisfactory academic progress in ELICOS.
Satisfactory academic progress includes:
- participating in all class activities
- demonstrating developing English language and study skills
- behaving appropriately when on campus.
If a student has been accepted into a Certificate or Diploma course subject to reaching a required level of English language proficiency and the student does not reach that level of proficiency, the student will be asked to continue ELICOS classes for a further period. If the student does not agree to further ELICOS study, he/she will not be accepted for entry to Certificate or Diploma level courses.