Counseling Services

Our Marketing, customer service staff, and agents are trained to provide accurate and high level support services to our international students.

Pre-Course Counseling

All our students must take a Placement Test to assess their English Learning needs. All Placement Tests are verified by the Director of Studies or a member of the Academic Council to ensure students are placed in the correct course and at the right level of English language learning. The process is a transparent one with students given feedback on their placement test.

Orientation

To help our students adjust and integrate into the student life at Ascend and Singapore, an orientation programme is organized for all new intakes students and programme contents covered from social to academic leading to a holistic education.
Our Orientation programme takes place in the first week of term.

Induction

Our trained teachers explain to students what they will cover in their course and what is expected from them in terms of homework; assignments and exams as well as their conduct in class. The induction programme will be conducted at the start of each intake.

Pastoral Counseling
            
Ascend conducts three types of pastoral counseling for students. One is for students having academic concerns; the other is for students experiencing behavioral and emotional issues. And the third is implementing programmes to create a culture and climate of respect and partnership that encourages student participation and success in line with Ascend’s values.

Academic Counseling

For Academic concerns our teachers are always our students’ first port of all call for any academic issues; however students may at any time go directly to our Director of Studies to raise any concerns they may have. This is emphasized during the orientation by the Director of Studies who leads the orientation session.

IELTS Counseling

For our IELTS students we also offer support from IDP Australia on registering for the IELTS exam. Trained IDP staff come to Ascend’s premises to explain the registration process and also give background information for students who wish to know more about studying or migrating to Australia. The test fee for 2010 is $300. Please note that the Listening, Reading and Writing tests are carried on in the one day over a three hour period whereas the Speaking test can be conducted on a separate day to the Listening, Reading and Writing. You are strongly advised to register 3-4 weeks in advance of the test date as demand for the IELTS test is high in Singapore.

In order to make it easier for Ascend students to register for the IELTS test, IDP Education consultants will conduct a briefing session on how to register for the IELTS exam at Ascend with IDP during your course. It will be possible to register for the exam and pay your exam fees in cash directly to the IDP consultant after the briefing session.

IDP  IELTS Exam Dates & Venue

IDP Education Pty Ltd
4th Level, RELC Building
30 Orange Grove Road
Singapore258352

* Always call the IDP IELTS hotline at 6736 7032 to check the availability of the test first before going to the centre to apply.

Educational Opportunities Counseling

We also invite registered agents and educational organizations to give talks to our students on continuing their studies in Singapore or abroad. Students choose if they wish to attend such talks. In addition to this service, students may approach any of the customer service team at Ascend regarding opportunities to study here in Singapore or abroad at any time.

Emotional Counseling

The second type of counseling service we provide is emotional support for students to help them with non-academic issues, for example, coping with the mental stress relating to a new environment. For this type of counseling we encourage that the sessions are strictly held in confidence and are by appointment only. Please ask at the front desk for more information or send an email to student.counselor@ascend.edu.sg. Please read below a profile of our Student Counselor.

Student Counselor

Marnie Reed,
originally from Melbourne Australia, Marnie is Singapore permanent resident who has also lived and worked in London and Hong Kong. Marnie holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) (Hons) and is CELTA-qualified with more than eight years of English teaching experience. Marnie has taught English at all levels and ages and has a particular interest in teaching business English to adults. Marnie is currently pursuing her Phd in Psychology and has kindly agreed to act as Ascend’s student counselor should students have any problems settling down in Singapore or just require someone to speak to about personal issues which may be affecting their studies with Ascend.