The Octorial Part-time programme

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The Octorial programme is designed to help students develop all aspects of their knowledge and use of English language, improve the core skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing, and develop ‘soft skills’ for their lives in an English speaking world. Our classes focus not only on accuracy and comprehension, but also on developing essential skills such as social interaction, self-study, critical thinking, and cultural awareness.
We believe that full immersion in English is the key to developing language skills, so classes are held in English in multinational classes. We encourage all our students to take full advantage of the experience by working hard inside and outside class, and by participating in the Social and Cultural programme with their classmates.
Before arrival, we ask students to complete a placement test and needs analysis. This gives us essential information about a student’s current English level, motivations, strengths, and areas to work on. We conduct an informal speaking assessment on the morning of arrival to ensure students are placed in the most appropriate class on their first day.
Teachers assess progress on a continual basis, by assessing written work, listening to spoken performance, and evaluating performance in class. During their course, learners are invited for individual coaching sessions with a teacher. The purpose of these sessions is to provide an opportunity to discuss their progress and to set achievable goals for self-study.

Lesson Descriptions

Leadership and Innovation, one three-hour class per week:
Students increase their understanding of the essential skills involved in leadership such as rapport building, problem solving, decision making and demonstrating initiative. The lesson also provides the opportunity to hone the skills involved in creativity through individual and collaborative activities. Students develop their communication skills to communicate ideas effectively, motivate and inspire others.

Individual and Collaborative Research Skills, one three-hour class per week:
Students learn and hone their skills for locating and evaluating information as well as analysing different sources. Students will have a chance to develop their abilities to set goals and work towards the completion of these with purpose and increased efficiency. Students develop their research skills for work on individual projects as well as develop their team working skills by integrating with others and being participative in activities.

Mediation and Intercultural Competency, one three-hour class per week:
In this lesson students develop and hone their abilities to function effectively across cultures while communicating appropriately. Students develop compensation strategies to work under pressure, such as regulating responses and reacting constructively when working to deadlines or dealing with change.

Comprehension, Vocabulary and Precis, one three-hour class per week:
In this lesson students develop their listening, reading, speaking and writing skills and expand their vocabulary using authentic resources. Students will further develop the skills of summarising and editing, both of which are essential academic and professional skills.

Critical Thinking: one two-hour class per week:
This class aims to develop critical thinking skills. Students will work on tasks to develop their higher order thinking skills, looking at situations from a variety of different perspectives and whether this changes their opinion on matters. The students will also have opportunities to analyse texts to identify the writer's opinion and attitude, what was really being said and whether the information was reliable or not and evidence to support this argument.

Spoken Performance, five hours per week
Students develop strategies and their abilities to speak with clarity and confidence, and to be understood. In these lessons they will learn a range of verbal and non-verbal skills for communication, and are set tasks which challenge them to develop their speaking and active expression skills.