Learn English UK: Platinum course

 

Platinum Locations:

 

Courses are offered in Brighton, London Central. These cities are each known not only for their strong links with business, trade and industry, but also for their links with education and the arts. All four are lively, vibrant places in which to live and study – even for a short time.

 

Platinum Centres:

 

London Central  is  dedicated Platinum Centre, which incorporate classrooms and Platinum lounges, equipped with: 

 

 

Before your Course:

 

You will complete a detailed “needs analysis” questionnaire before you start your course. This will help us assess your requirements and formulate a unique programme, tailored to your needs. Once your course has started, there will be regular opportunities for you to comment on your progress to date and influence future course content with your teacher. 

 

The Teachers: 

 

Our teachers are experienced and well qualified, and frequently combine teaching expertise with experience in commercial and management positions. All teachers are given special guidance on the language and social needs of our Platinum clients.

Platinum Courses:

Platinum English Courses are designed to suit a variety of needs and objectives, but will commonly include: 

 

• Professional or commercial communication skills
• Presentation skills  
• Business negotiations and discussions  
• Social English for professional or commercial purposes  
• Making and receiving telephone calls in English  
• Written communication – for example letters, faxes, emails and reports 

 

Platinum courses are tailor-made to meet your specific requirements, whether for Business English, General English, or a combination of both. Our group Platinum courses are offered to all levels - from beginner to advanced.

 

Courses for beginner, elementary and pre-intermediate students typically include more General English study than courses for higher-level students.

 

Platinum Course Format:

 

Platinum Courses start every Monday throughout the year, and are available for a minimum of one week.

 

We offer three formats of Platinum English programmes:

 

• Platinum English Classes  

Maximum 5 per group, for 15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 lessons per week.

Choose this programme if you want maximum contact with international colleagues and require a more general approach to Platinum English. 

 

• Platinum English Plus  

Platinum English classes as above, plus one private lesson per day (5 per week) for accelerated progress.

Choose this programme if you want to combine contact with international colleagues with very specific input sessions relating to your particular professional field.

 

• Platinum English One-to-One  

15, 20, 25, 30 or 35 One-to-One (private) lessons per week. Choose this option for maximum intensity and progress, with a programme designed solely to meet your objectives and needs. 

 

Platinum Courses for Professionals: 

 

For clients who work in a specific industry we offer specialist courses. These can be combined with General English and/or Business English as well as being taken by themselves. Examples of these courses are:

 

Finance – We welcome clients from a variety of financial backgrounds including banking, tax and accountancy.

 

Human Resources - Course focusing upon the areas of English language and vocabulary demanded by those working in the sector of Human Resources and recruitment.

 

Journalism ­– This course focuses on the language needed for research, interviewing and writing skills.

 

Law – Aimed at qualified barristers and solicitors, junior lawyers, law students and legal secretaries.

 

Medicine – English is fast becoming a pre-requisite for those working in the medical industry. This course is aimed at doctors, nurses and other professionals in this specialised field.

 

Military – Designed to meet the English language requirements of those in the Army, Navy, Air force, Police force and other military operations.

 

Secretaries, Personal Assistants and Administrative staff – Areas of focus in this course include telephone communication, meeting and event organising, note taking, email, fax and letter writing, customer relations and topic areas essential for the day-to-day inter-company communication where English is the common language.

 

We also offer Aviation and Human Resources.

 

Preparation and entry for IELTS and TOEFL exams can also be organised on request.

 

On completion of your studies at St Giles you will receive a certificate specifying the specialisation of your course.

 

If you work in an industry that is not listed above we are happy to tailor-make a course specifically for your needs on a One-to-One basis.

 

Weekend Courses:

 

We understand that many of our Platinum clients have busy schedules and need to fit their English language learning around other commitments. We are therefore pleased to now offer lessons at the weekends with flexible hours on a One-to-One basis, so you can schedule your week in a way that is convenient to you.

In–company training:

 

We also offer in-company training to fit around your existing commitments at work. One of our highly trained teachers will come to your office at a time that suits you. We are happy to provide specialist packages for companies at competitive rates.

 

Telephone lessons: 

 

We can organise a package of pre- or post-course telephone lessons. Your teacher will call you for thirty minutes at a pre-arranged time to conduct the lesson. This is the perfect way to prepare for your course or to continue improving your English once you are back in your home country, in addition to being a confidence-building exercise for those who regularly have to speak English on the telephone. 

 

Platinum Accommodation: 

 

We offer Platinum clients a wide range of specially selected Platinum accommodation options.

3-4 star hotels

 

 

 

Hotels are offered to our Platinum clients at discounted rates. They are located within walking distance of our schools, in city centre/downtown locations, and rooms will include all the usual facilities of private bathrooms, TV, telephone etc.

 

Platinum/Superior Homestay – Brighton, London Central

 

These hosts are selected on the following criteria:

 

·        Quality of house, its décor and facilities

·        The professional interests of the hosts

·        The location of the home – usually pleasant, professional suburbs

 

Social Programme: 

 

 

A successful Platinum English programme is not simply about classroom study. We provide a range of specially organised social and cultural activities each week for our Platinum clients, which you can enjoy with your colleagues and teachers. This programme of activities is the ideal opportunity to practise your English in a more relaxed social setting. Typical activities will include:

• Visits to the theatre and opera
• Restaurants
• Museum and gallery tours
• Weekend excursions offered via our regular social programme

During your stay you receive one complimentary social programme activity per fortnight. One-to-one clients also enjoy a complimentary three-course lunch with their teacher at the end of their course.
 

Platinum English:  Sample Weekly Plan - General Manager  

 

Lesson	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
1-2	Needs analysis   Greetings - the importance of first impressions, recognition of register	Company rules and regulations   - the language of obligation and permission.   Listening comprehension and personalisation	Future events   language to express degrees of likelihood     Discussion – personal career plans and current affairs	Phrasal verbs   - focus on form and meaning of those commonly used in a business environment – practice in context	Business idioms   - use in context   listening comprehension   - what do they really mean?
3	Indirect questions   - asking detailed questions and getting further information	Business letters   - general format and discussion of variations	Video case study   - discussing a business plan	Business texts   - analysis of format and style	Numerical terms   - spoken and written versions
4	Work vocabulary   - personalisation, describing your job	Business phrases   - reading between the lines of commonly used phrases	Follow up   - analysis of problem solving techniques used in the video	Reading comprehension   - news extract from today’s business section	Financial press   - reading comprehension from a newspaper article
LUNCH
5-6	Presenting the company   - listening comprehension followed by student’s own presentation – titles, hierarchy, functions	Functional focus   - agreeing and disagreeing   - situational practice   Direct and tentative language	Negotiating skills   - persuading and dissuading   - role-play, error correction of recorded role-play	Functional focus   - giving opinions and putting forward your point effectively – interrupting – insisting – role-play	Telephone language   - getting through   - giving information   - taking down information   - clarifying   - ending the call