ELICOS

New South Wales English Language Centre, Newcastle
 
The New South Wales English Language Centre (NSW ELC) is an award-winning English Language Centre 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. The NSW ELC is also a member of English Australia (EA). 



Location
The NSW English Language Centre is located ten minutes from Newcastle City centre on the Newcastle Campus of Hunter Institute at Tighes Hill. 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. The area has many leafy residential streets and large parks.
 
Our programs
The Centre operates for 51 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 (tourist visas/working holiday visas/business visas).
 
Intensive English, Beginners to Advanced (2 - 50 weeks, 20 hours per week)
This 20-hour per week course includes a 3-hour morning session during which you study from an internationally recognised EFL textbook, with a 1-hour afternoon lesson that focuses on skills development (listening, speaking, reading or writing), or exam preparation.  In addition to timetabled lessons, we offer free Intensive IELTS Preparation sessions to our enrolled students, every Monday to Thursday afternoon. 
 
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) / IELTS Preparation / English for Further Study (EFS)
The EFS course (Certificate III in EFS) 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. a university Foundation Studies program). Upon successful completion of the EAP course (Certificate IV in EAP), you may be able to enrol in an undergraduate or postgraduate course at a number of Australian universities requiring an equivalent of IELTS 6.5 entry. You still need to meet the university entry criteria for your course, apart from English language level prerequisites.
 
Universities which accept the TAFE NSW Certificate IV in EAP are:
University of Newcastle
University of Macquarie
University of New South Wales
University of Technology (UTS)
University of Western Sydney
Charles Stuart University
University of Canberra
La Trobe University

(Source: UAC Guide, 2010)
 
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 on a permanent 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.
 
 
Teachers
All our teachers are fully qualified and highly experienced. Our motto is friendly professionalism, and you will find teachers welcoming, helpful and friendly at all times.
 
Facilities
NSW English Language Centre students have access to all campus student facilities. As an English Language Centre student you will have access to: 
•    pleasant spacious classrooms
•    a modern library with access to books and audio-visual material, internet, smartboard, website with current 
     catalogues 
•    a lively, interesting weekly activities program especially arranged for our English students
•    an international student common room with a ping pong table, comfortable lounges, computers with internet - a 
     special place where students can meet, relax and study
•    tea and coffee making facilities are available in the international student kitchen
•    easy access to public transport, including bus stops near the campus, with the nearest train station,     
     Hamilton Station, about 8 minutes’ walk from our Language Centre. 

Support services 
NSW English Language Centre students have access to all campus support services, including: 
•    the International Student Programs (ISP) – learn more about courses you can study at Hunter TAFE
•    a professional Student Counselling Service – professionally qualified counselling staff assist when you need
     someone to discuss personal problems with, or if you need careers advice;
•    accommodation finding service – accommodation options are homestay, shared accommodation, renting your
     own house or apartment;
•    airport pick-up service – door-to-door airport pick up is available to and from Sydney Airport;
•    job finding service - one of our friendly teaching staff is available to help you find a job – there is no guarantee of 
     employment, but we do what we can to assist. 
 
Visa information 
 
If you have a tourist visa, you can study English full-time or part-time up to 13 weeks, and a working holiday visa allows you to study full-time or part-time up to 17 weeks.
 
What are the living costs? 
You should allow approximately AU$1,200 per month for living costs. You do not have to buy your own textbook, but need to have a dictionary. We supply you with a textbook which you borrow for the duration of your course.

Application process  
Step 1:   Fill in application form – make sure you sign the application form and attach your passport photo page (in colour if possible);

Step 2:   Email the application form to us: elc.hunter@tafe.nsw.edu.au;

Step 3:   An offer letter is issued, with an invoice and payment options;

Step 4:   Pay the full amount stated on the invoice;

Step 5:   A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is issued and emailed to you;

Step 6:   Apply for your student visa, either online (www.immi.gov.au) or through your agent; 

Step 7:   After you receive your visa, book your flight, and advise us of your arrival details if you need airport pick-up;

Step 8:   If your student visa is refused, you receive a full refund (our refund policy is printed on the back of the 
             application form).