Key Academic Features

• 15 hours of English lessons each week
• Balance of appropriate language and skills development
• Links to activities and visits in the UK
• An opportunity to work individually and in multi-national groups
• Integrated skills syllabus linked to the ALTE framework
• An opportunity to take the Trinity Spoken English examination
• An opportunity to study with at least two Elac teachers

At Cardiff Metropolitan University our students receive 3 hours 20 minutes of English tuition divided over 3 lessons in the morning or afternoon, four or five days a week; a total of 15 hours per week. There is a balance between language and skills development in mixed nationality classes, with a maximum of 15 students to a class. Students use an Elac workbook which also acts as a record of the student’s stay.

There is an option for students to be prepared and entered for the Trinity Examination while on an Elac course at Nottingham University. Preparation for the exam takes place in three additional sessions organised in the afternoons or evenings immediately prior to the exam.

There is an additional charge for entering the exam. Please refer to the “Dates and Prices” page for more details.

Activity Programme

Key Activity Features

• A wide variety of sports and activities
• Multi-national activities
• A blend of "Core Activities" and "Free Choice"

Our sports and activity programme during the day and in the evening gives students’ opportunities to enjoy a variety of sports and activities and practise their English in mixed nationality groups. Our activity leaders are experienced in encouraging students to get involved and have fun.

For all “core activities” students are organised into small multi-national groups. These activities help students gain confidence and fluency with their English as well as encouraging them to interact with more students of different nationalities. Many of these activities are linked to the lessons and excursions on the programme using engaging creative material such as mobile apps, gadgets and Internet-based technology.

Sports and Physical Activities

The Cyncoed campus has wonderful sports facilities including indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an all-weather astroturf and two indoor gyms. In addition there is an indoor swimming pool.

We run inter-group competitions as well as individual competitions. Trophies and prizes are awarded at the end of the course for the winners.

We also offer aerobics and dance activities where possible.

Creative Activities

Students can also participate in the following:

• Designing T-shirts and bags
• Making key rings, book marks, painting and colouring projects
• Music and drama workshops

Evening Activities

These take place every evening. Activities include:

• Treasure and photo hunts
• Quiz nights and murder mystery events
• Talent shows and casino nights
• Discos and Karaoke
• Movie nights

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Excursion Programme

Key Excursion Features

• Explore Wales; an excursion to see Caerphilly Castle & St Fagan’s Museum
• Coach excursion to Swansea, including the National Maritime Museum
• A half-day visit to the Big Pit coal mine
• Two trips in to Cardiff to visit museums and for free time

On a two week programme students go to Cardiff, Swansea, the Big Pit, Caephilly Castle and St Fagan's Museum. On a three week programme students also go to Bristol for a visit to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, and in to Cardiff.

Students will also have the opportunity to visit Cardiff during supervised free time, to explore it further and do some shopping.

Cardiff

This excursion includes an orientation walking tour around the centre of Cardiff followed by a visit to the National Museum and free time for shopping and exploring the city centre. National Museum Cardiff is situated in the heart of Cardiff’s elegant civic centre and houses world class art and natural history, including Wales’s national art, natural history and geology collections. There’s plenty to please your eye – from Impressionist paintings to gigantic dinosaurs.

Swansea

This attractive city, rich in art and culture, is situated at the gateway to the Gower peninsular, an area of outstandingly beautiful coastline. Our visit includes a tour of the National Maritime Museum and the Dylan Thomas Centre. Dylan Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953) was a Welsh poet and writer who wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio in English, which he often performed himself. After lunch, there is the option to look around Swansea and do some shopping, or visit the beach and have a walk and an ice-cream.

Explore Wales - Caerphilly Castle & St Fagan's Museum

St Fagan's National Museum of History is one of world’s leading open–air museums and Wales’s most-visited heritage attraction. It stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagan's Castle, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. During the last fifty years, over fifty original buildings from different locations in Wales and from different historical periods have been re-built in the 100-acre parkland.

Caerphilly Castle is a medieval fortification in Caerphilly in South Wales. The castle was constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century. It was the biggest castle in — second only to Windsor in the whole of Britain. Massive walls, towers and gatehouses were combined with sprawling water defences to cover a total of 30 acres. Today it is a popular tourist site which welcomes visitors from all over the World.

Big Pit (Half-day)

Big Pit is a real colliery. It was the place of work for hundreds of men, women and children for over 200 years This visit gives you a fascinating opportunity to explore what their life was like. The guided tours, conducted by experienced colliery personnel, last just under an hour. A further 20 minutes or so is taken in 'kitting up' with helmet and cap lamp, collecting contraband (cigarettes, matches, mobile phones, battery-operated equipment etc.) and riding through the shaft. The tour begins with a 300ft (90m) descent down the mineshaft by pit cage. You can also visit the original Big Pit colliery buildings around the site, including the Fan House, Blacksmith's Forge, Stables and Winding Engine House.

Bristol & Clifton Suspension Bridge (3 week course)

Our visit to Bristol begins with a chance to view and walk across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, built by the renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Following this we will visit another of Brunel’s achievements, the SS Great Britain, the first iron hulled ship to cross the Atlantic. There will be free time to visit the large recently constructed indoor shopping centre, Cabot Circus, or else to follow the ‘Banksie trail’ and see some of the street art in the city, or to visit the city museum.

In a two week programme there is one Optional Excursion day (in a 3 week programme there are two Optional Excursion days). There are a range of excursions that can be booked once a group is in the UK. Please contact the head office for more information.