General English 20 + Virtual Internships

Course description

The General 20 course focuses on language fluency as a main goal. The four major skills students will practice are reading, writing, speaking and listening. Students are active participants and learn grammar, vocabulary and common expressions by working and speaking with their classmates.

This course is suitable for students of any level from Beginner to Advanced who want to improve their level by gaining confidence in all areas of the English language and who want to improve their fluency and ability to use English in everyday situations and contexts.

Please note that the first day is mainly focused on pre-test and orientation. This is the timetable of the student for the first day:

08:30 - Student arrival and check-in
09:00 - Placement test and interviews
11:00 - Welcome breakfast and orientation with various EC staff members
12:00 - Welcome tour of school neighbourhood

Students taking courses with 20 or 24 lessons per week will not have class on the first day due to orientation, while those taking courses with 30 lessons per week will have two classes in the afternoon on the first day after orientation.

After the first day, lessons alternate between morning and afternoon sessions on a daily basis.

What can you expect on this course?

Real English
You will experience how English is spoken and used in many real-life situations. Relevant and engaging lessons will develop your understanding of grammar, vocabulary, idioms and pronunciation, and give you practice in the use of everyday English through the four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Creative and energetic classes
Our teachers are qualified and experienced, and when it comes to creating lessons, they know what works. Classes are dynamic, engaging and motivating, designed to activate and build upon your strengths, whilst also giving targeted attention to your weaker areas. Relaxed and informal classroom environments create an encouraging atmosphere, to help you build your confidence, realise your potential and advance towards fluency.

Learn by doing
At EC, progress is maximised as students are encouraged to learn by doing. Our task-based lessons focus on the active production of English, promoting class participation and interaction between students.

Improve your ‘thinking time’
As your skills and confidence develop with support from your teachers, so too will your ability to listen, understand and respond quickly and effectively in English. You will notice these improvements most of all when you take your English outside of the classroom and into everyday conversation in one of our vibrant English-speaking destinations!

Expert support
Your teachers are trained to deliver on-going support, feedback and care throughout your time at EC. You will be taught by at least two teachers, exposing you to a variety of voices, improving your listening and boosting your vocabulary.

Authentic materials
We believe there is no substitute for authentic English so, in addition to text books, our teachers use real-life resources taken from newspapers, TV, radio and the Internet. The authentic nature of these materials gives our students an appreciation of the richness of the English language used in a variety of everyday contexts.

+

EC Plus Virtual Internship gives students the opportunity to work remotely for one of 12,000 approved host companies in 70+ countries – gaining not only professional career experience, but also exposure to an international company and experience working with different cultures.

How long is a Virtual Internship?

4, 6, 8, or 12 weeks – it’s up to you. You can also commit anywhere between 10-30 hours per week to your internship. The beauty of virtual internships is that they are flexible to fit your studies and lifestyle.

What companies could I be working for?

Host companies range from big organisations to startups and SMEs. Over 70% of interns work directly with the founder or c-suite member of their host company!

Why is internship experience so important?

A virtual internship gives you the chance to gain the soft and hard skills you need to succeed in your future career. You’ll be able to work with CEOs, incredible leaders, and more throughout the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Will a virtual internship make me more employable?

1 in 4 interns are offered a position by their host company following completion of their virtual internship.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (US) released their 2021 Job Outlook report noting, “Employers continue to indicate that internship experience is the deciding factor between two otherwise equally qualified candidates.”

Gain the skills employers want

Not only will you gain the experience you need, but you’ll also gain the soft skills employers actively want in new hires by working remotely including time management, prioritization, cultural awareness, and so much more.

It’s more than an internship

You’ll be supported throughout by your internship experience manager. You’ll develop core skills needed to advance in the future through our professional development hub of 12+ courses. You’ll have access to a career coach who will help you leverage your internship experience to land the job you want. And of course, you’ll gain the valuable experience you need.

It’s entirely accessible – no need to relocate, travel, or commute

Internships shouldn’t be available only to those that can afford to relocate to big cities or travel abroad. Virtual internships make real-world work experience with innovative, international companies accessible to all, regardless of your degree choice, location, or background.

The Steps to Apply For A Virtual Internship:
Step 1: Book your (min. 4 week language course and min 120 hour internship) programme with EC and then continue the application process online to specify your interests and future career goals

Step 2: Meeting VI’s enrolment team on a short video interview to learn more about you so that we can match you with the best host company

Step 3: Be matched with a host company perfectly suited to you in 6 weeks or less

Step 4: Begin your internship with a start date that suits you best

Step 5: Gain valuable, real-world professional experience on your internship, build your skills with our professional development hub, and gain clarity on your future career path with your personal career coach.