Academic programme

The course is divided into 4 areas of competences:

Fluent use of English: it will take the pupil from his or her school knowledge of the language to a level that will allow them to manipulate the language in most international life situations. 

* Academia: the students learn the vocabulary and the codes to study at University in English.
* Exam preparation: many of the pupils want to take an official examination to prove the level they have attained in the language.
* Creative writing: to develop style and depth in writing
* Drama: lots of role play to learn how to project their personality in English. 
 

Cultural awareness: this is the part of the course that aims at developing a broad understanding of sophisticated general knowledge:

* Literature in English: an insight into the authors who wrote and write in English. The programme does not limit itself to Irish and British authors but also covers American, Australian and New Zealand writers.

* Music and art appreciation: the pupils learn about composers and artists who dominate the music and art scene at present. The lessons might lead to a visit to an important art museum or to a concert locally or in London.

* The drama lessons encourage the students' interest in theatre and give them a basic knowledge of what constitutes good thespian skills 

Introduction to career subjects: journalism, ecology, sociology and psychology are all taught at beginners level and take the students into the realm of university subjects. As tasters they allow the pupils to acquire both a knowledge of the subject and a taste for the subject.

* Journalism: newspaper articles, TV reports, radio programmes are dissected for identifying the skills that go into good journalistic reporting. Pupils are also expected to try their hand at writing an article or producing a programme of their own.

* Sociology: although sociology is the universal study of social life and the causes and consequences of human behaviour, the course tries to identify specific codes of Anglo Saxon behaviour. The pupils are encouraged to investigate the structure of groups, organizations and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.  

* Psychology: this subject has been added to the curriculum because of its wide appeal among university students in the present times.

* Ecology: study of the environment is a non-negotiable necessity for all teenagers: the course takes them through the essential elements that affect the environment and the climate.

Academic subjects: the course includes a number of modules to cover the most fundamental academic subjects: History, Maths, Geography, Literature. The purpose of these lessons is to both improve the students' knowledge in the subject and give them the ability to explore the subject in English. Terminology is one of the limiting factors for those who have studied the subjects in English. The course equips students with the skills to transfer into English the knowledge they have in their own language.