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Ascend’s EGL Programme

Ascend’s English as a Global Language (EGL) program is a graded programme which aims to build up our students’ level of competency and confidence in the English language in a gradual and structured way so that they can live and study effectively in an English speaking environment. Our commitment to academic excellence at Ascend is reflected in our adoption of the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework (CEF) of reference (2001) for language teaching and assessment. The aim of the CEF is to provide a common international base for defining and measuring levels of language proficiency.

Our EGL program at Ascend consists of 7 language levels which are mapped directly onto the Common European Framework as shown in the table below. The table also compares the language level at Ascend and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Our students at Ascend are expected to reach an IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL IBT score of 80 to progress on to diploma and degree programmes in Singapore or overseas.

Ascend Levels Council of  Europe Levels Length of Course Entrance Requirements  Tuition fee per level
Starter  Breakthrough 3 Months (180hrs) Placement Test $1,800
Elementary Breakthrough Basic User 3 Months (180hrs) Pass Starter/
Placement Test
$1,800
Pre Intermediate Waystage Basic User 3 Months (180hrs) Pass Elementary/
Placement Test
$1,800
Intermediate Threshold Independent user 3 Months (180hrs) Pass Pre Intermediate/
Placement Test
$1,800
Upper Intermediate Vantage Independent User 3 Months (180hrs) Pass Intermediate/
Placement Test
$1,800
Advanced Effective Proficient User 3 Months (180 hrs) Pass Upper Intermediate/
Placement Test
$1,800
Post-Advanced Effective Proficient User 3 Months (180 hrs) Pass Advanced/
Placement Test
$1,800
Non tuition fees: Course registration Fee S$150
● Sponsorship Fee S$200 ● Material Fee S50 per level

EGL Entrance Requirements

The EGL programme is designed for full time foreign students over the age of 14 who wish to advance their knowledge of the English language for social, academic or professional purposes.

Students are advised to take our overseas placement test before coming to Singapore so we can reserve a seat for them in the correct class. On arrival in Singapore all students are required to take our in house placement test at Ascend to ensure that the first placement test score was accurate. The student will be placed one of the seven appropriate classes based on the result of their Singapore placement test.

Subject to the teacher’s discretion, students cannot join a level that has already been running for more than six weeks; they will have to wait for the next intake for their level. In such a case the student is placed at a level lower than their placement test so as to ensure they are prepared for the next intake.

Student’s progression is then assessed through a combination of course work and a final exam from the Elementary level to the Post-Advanced level.  Students will be required to complete homework and coursework on a timely and regular basis. Those who do not may be disqualified from taking the final exam subject to the teacher’s discretion.

The pass mark to progress form one level to the next is 50%. Students receive a certificate of achievement on successful completion of a level. If a student fails a level they are required to repeat the level and receive a certificate of attendance.

Our Starter Level is for students with little or no prior knowledge of the English language or for those who need to brush up on the basics before moving on to elementary level. The course builds up students confidence through a step by step approach to grammar and sentence structure.

There is also a focus on high-frequency, useful words and phrases which makes vocabulary easy to remember and easy to use. The topics at this level relate to the immediate language needs of the student: the ability to introduce themselves and communicating basic information regarding home, work, family, interests, holidays, directions in simple and grammatically correct sentences.

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Our Elementary Level is for students who have already learnt some English and who wish to build on their English language skills for social and everyday purposes. It is expected that the writing and speaking skills of students will be limited at this stage. » Click here to view our students work

The language will be mostly or completely learnt by repetition and drilling. Reading and listening skills will be more developed than speaking and writing skills. By the end of the level it is expected that students will be able to understand straightforward information in spoken and written English and to express himself/herself in speech and in writing for simple practical purposes in everyday situations such as asking for directions, ordering food at a restaurant, making appointments and reservations; expressing degrees of certainty and frequency and talking about the past. It is a course which prepares students for the next stage in English.

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Our Pre-Intermediate Level is for students who have a command of English which allows them to use the language to deal with familiar social and everyday situations. By the end of this level our students should be able to understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at meeting their needs.

They should also be able to introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as personal preferences, where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Students should also be able to interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

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Our Intermediate Level is for students who need to understand and express in speaking and writing - information, ideas, feelings, opinions and common phrases about everyday situations in straightforward spoken and written language.

By the end of this level our students are expected to be able to understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).

Our students should also be able to communicate in simple English conversations and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. They should also be able to describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate interest.

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Our Upper-Intermediate Level is for students who use or will use English for their educational or working life.  At the end of this level students should be able to understand familiar matters regularly encountered in work, college, etc.

Students should also be able to deal with most situations likely to arise while living in an area where the English language is spoken.  In addition, students should also be able to produce grammatically accurate and complex sentences in connected texts and essays on topics that are familiar or of personal interest.

They should also be able to describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.

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Our Advanced Level is for students who use or will use English on a regular basis and who wish to improve their fluency and accuracy as well as extending their vocabulary to include more specialised English related to their own areas of interest.

By the end of this level students should be able to understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of interest. Students should also be able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible and easy for either party.

  In addition, students should also be able to produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various opinions.
» Click here to view our students work

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Our Post-Advanced Level is based on using skills learnt in the Upper Intermediate and Advanced classes in an interactive way. Students are trained in public speaking, presentation, problem-solving, debating and writing - all skills they can use in their studies and their professional lives. The Post-Advanced English course focuses heavily on speaking and writing but also incorporates reading and listening based on particular themes and topics.

In the research module of the course students select themes and topics based on cultural festivals they attend equipped with camcorders, cameras and tape recorders. The students take photos, observe and interview people. They also watch films, go on excursions, read books and use the internet to support their research. In the presentation module of the course the students are then asked to write promotional brochures or reports based on the research they carried out.

They must also prepare for a power point presentation and chose the appropriate photos, film and audio to support their presentation in front of their fellow classmates and teachers. The presentation is followed by an open question and answer session with feedback on the presentation.

 
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