Research based learning programme

Octorial^™

Academic Experience

Key points

Students train to acquire the skills necessary to use the language at a high level. Teachers set milestones and goals for each student, with constant evaluation. This sets the pace for each learner to surpass their academic expectations and achieve more than they thought possible.

The small number of students in each group provides participants with a learning experience tailored to each individual's needs, while benefiting from the participants' experiences and cultural diversity. Small class sizes also allow for a large amount of individual coaching, which helps to provide students with the confidence and disposition to master the language in a stimulating environment.

The course exposes learners to a range of authentic sources from different academic subjects, piquing their intellectual curiosity alongside exposing them to different styles and registers, as well as new vocabulary and structures. Students debate, discuss and analyse the content, leading to increased confidence, fluency and enhanced critical thinking skills.

Objectives of the study

Objective of the stay

To achieve specific qualifications for either further education or vocational training.

The programme is for students aged 16-26 years.

The research-based Octorial programme

The concept of the course is anchored around research-based learning, or active study. Students are given projects to work on for all areas of their language development needs.

Proximity to tutors leads to a collaborative and interactive programme. Learners are participative, engaged and make fast progress. Suited to university students who need to achieve specific qualifications for their academic or professional career.

The real value of this programme of learning is in the retention level. The active research approach followed by tutor guidance ensures that a lot more of what is learned turns into spontaneous reflexes that refine the student's level of fluency.

The concept of the course is anchored around research-based learning, or active study. Students are given projects to work on for all areas of their language development needs:
- grammar is not based on exercises but on understanding the rules before the time spent with the tutor to sharpen accuracy
- vocabulary building: students expand their lexicon by researching collocation, synonyms, word patterns/word families, etc and spending time with the tutor to refine the results of their research
- reading is, by definition, an individual exercise which students work on before the tutor checks their comprehension ability
- writing skills are developed through essay writing on a variety of general knowledge subjects. The essay is marked with the tutor with helpful explanations to improve the next essay
- listening: podcasts are analysed in the student's own time in the school prior to the time spent with the tutor who will assess the calibre of receptive skills and guide the student towards improved listening techniques
- speaking: although this is considered as one single skills, the school works on the multiple facets of speaking skills: fluency, pace, pronunciation, intonation, diction, within a variety of contexts such as a personal conversation, a group discussion, a presentation or a speech. Oratory skills are developed through various forms of exercises that students are asked to practise before the lesson (often the day before the speaking lesson with the tutor): it can be in the form of a negotiation, a presentation, a lecture, etc.
- exam techniques: the course aims at making students exam literate, fully aware of the examiners' expectations. This constitutes a solid map for gaining the relevant competencies to approach the exam with serenity
- occupational English skills: students today have a limitless palette of options for their further education. This course is devised to allow students to focus on the individual requirements of their chosen future occupation

Expectations

Expected outcomes

Achievement of the required qualifications in English together with a well-rounded general education inspired by the Liberal Arts.

Accommodation

Half-board homestay

Staying in a homestay gives participants the chance to be fully immersed into the local culture of the destination, whilst also being able to practice the language in a relaxed and natural setting. No two students of the same mother tongue are placed with the same host, which enables students to broaden their scope in their use of the language and become familiar with expressing themselves. Homestay arrivals the Sunday before the course begins, and departures the Saturday after the course ends.

Excluding accommodation

For students who wish to make their own accommodation arrangements.