NSW English Language Centre

The NSW English Language Centre (NSW ELC) is accredited by the National English Language Teaching Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) and fully owned by the NSW State Government. All advertised courses are registered with Government accreditation agencies and include nationally accredited certificate courses.

Where are we?

The NSW English Language Centre is located ten minutes from Newcastle City centre on the Newcastle Campus of Hunter Institute. This is a spacious and attractive campus in one of the popular suburbs of Newcastle.

The Newcastle area is home to beautiful beaches, busy shopping centres, restaurants, vineyards as well as being close to beautiful Lake Macquarie. There are many leafy residential streets and large parks.

Facilities

NSW English Language Centre students have access to all campus student facilities. As a NSW English Language Centre student you will have:-

• pleasant spacious classrooms
• computerised language laboratory
• computer laboratory with free internet and email access (open to students outside class hours)
• a modern library with access to books and audio-visual material, internet, website with current catalogues
• an Individual Learning Centre (ILC) is available with teacher assistance for self study
• specifically organised activities and discounts on a range of services
• social activities available but are not compulsory and are organised by the NSW ELC
• an international student common room where students can meet, relax and study - tea and coffee making facilities are available.

Support Services

NSW English Language Centre students have access to all campus support services including the International Student Programs (ISP), a professional Student Counselling Service, accommodation officer, airport pick-up and careers advice.

For information on any of these services, please contact the NSW English Language Centre on:
Phone: +61 2 4923 7382
Fax: +61 2 4923 7781
Email: hunter.elc@tafe.nsw.edu.au

Tourist and working holiday visa

If you have a tourist or a working holiday visa you can study English for up to 17 weeks.

What are the living costs?

You should allow approximately AU$1,000 per month for living costs and AU$150 per month may be needed for local transport, course related excursions and stationery. There are no textbooks required but you will need a dictionary.

Our Courses

The Centre operates for 50 weeks per year with new classes starting every Monday. Full-time classes are timetabled at 20 hours per week of class time over 5 days. There are part-time options available for students who are not on student visas.

Download an application form:

Elicos_Application_Form

Intensive English, Beginners to Advanced (2 - 50 weeks)

This course includes a 3-hour morning session during which you study from an internationally recognised EFL textbook, with an afternoon option class.  Options for afternoon study are Grammar, TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS/ Academic Writing, Listening and Speaking, English for Business, Pop Music, and Australian Studies.  

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) / IELTS Preparation / English for Further Study (EFS)

The EFS course enables you to further your studies at TAFE without having to sit for an IELTS exam, or to enrol for a course which requires a 5.5 on IELTS (e.g. university Foundation Studies). Upon successful completion of the EAP course, you may be able to enrol in an undergraduate and postgraduate course at a number of Australian universities. You still need to meet the university entry criteria for your course, apart from English language level prerequisites.

Cambridge exam courses

•    Certificate of Proficiency (CPE) / part-time
•    Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
•    First Certificate English (FCE)
•    BEC Preliminary (Business English Certificate I) / TOEIC  Preparation
•    BEC Vantage (Business English Certificate II) / TOEIC  Preparation 

These challenging 10-week exam courses are stimulating and demanding, and, upon successful completion, lead to an internationally recognised exam qualification. In most cases, they also lead to improved study and employment opportunities.  

English Preparation for High School

This course is for students 15 years and older, and is generally up to 20 weeks in duration. It consists of 2 x 10-week courses which develop skills needed to study successfully in an Australian high school. In addition to studying Intensive English, students are introduced to Australian culture and the language of key high school subjects, as well as to Australian teaching and learning methods.

Students under 18 must have a guardian. This guardian must be a blood relative, and not studying on a student visa. We can organise homestay and guardianship with friendly, caring Australian families.  

English for Business Purposes

Our 2 x 10-week Cambridge Business English Certificate courses (BEC Preliminary I & BEC Vantage II) prepare you to cope effectively in English in the work environment. We focus on improving all your English language skills in a business context, including speaking, listening, reading and writing. We also prepare students for the TOEIC exam, which focuses on testing English language skills in an office or business environment.