Our courses are taught using a combination of lecture, guided participation, drills, and practical exercises. They are designed to quickly endow participants with a degree of confidence in their own communication skills, allowing them to more readily participate. Our goal is to encourage participants to react instinctively, rather than according to memorized rules or scripted formulas.
+ Conversational English
Hours: 30
Description: This course is designed for students who have an average understanding of English. It is made up of a review of the Rules of English (grammar), the Sounds of English (pronunciation, rhythm, and stress), and the Content of English (idioms and expressions, phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases). Primary emphasis is on the aspects of English common misused by Filipinos.
Description: This course is designed for students who have an average understanding of English. It is made up of a review of the Rules of English (grammar), the Sounds of English (pronunciation, rhythm, and stress), and the Content of English (idioms and expressions, phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases). Primary emphasis is on the aspects of English common misused by Filipinos.
+ Topics
- The Rules of English
- Overview of the Parts of Speech
- Prepositions
- Articles and Determiners
- Nouns and Pronouns
- Modifiers
- Verbs
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Simple and Progressive Tenses
- Sentence Structure
- The Sounds of English
- English Spelling vs. Pronunciation
- The Schwa Sound
- Incomplete Sounds
- Problem Sounds for Filipinos
- Confused Sounds
- Voiced and Unvoiced Sounds
- Syllable Stress
- Reduced Vowels
- Reduced Forms
- Word Stress
- Liaisons
- The Content of English
- Vocabulary
- Idioms and Expressions
- Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Phrases
Prerequisite: None
+ Advanced Conversational English
Hours: 30
Description: This course is designed for students with an intermediate to advanced understanding of English, whose application of the English language enables them to develop more advanced conversational techniques and strategies. The program entails the understanding of main ideas and supporting ideas, making inferences from conversations and talks that deal with a variety of topics, and developing confidence in communicating thoughts in an organized manner. Primary emphasis is placed on learning strategies to develop listening skills, especially in analyzing a situation or conversation/meeting and being able to take action or decision based on the results of the analysis.
Description: This course is designed for students with an intermediate to advanced understanding of English, whose application of the English language enables them to develop more advanced conversational techniques and strategies. The program entails the understanding of main ideas and supporting ideas, making inferences from conversations and talks that deal with a variety of topics, and developing confidence in communicating thoughts in an organized manner. Primary emphasis is placed on learning strategies to develop listening skills, especially in analyzing a situation or conversation/meeting and being able to take action or decision based on the results of the analysis.
+ Topics
- Functional English
- The Art of Conversation and Small Talk
- Telephoning
- Organizing and Clear Delivery of Thoughts
- Active Listening
- Supporting A Point of View
- Effective Meetings and Discussions
- Chairing and Attending a Meeting
- Stating and Asking for Opinion
- Interrupting and Handling Interruptions
- Asking for and Giving Clarification
- Ending the Meeting
- Meeting Simulations
Prerequisite: Basic Grammar or successful completion of the Basic to Intermediate pre-training assessment AND Advanced Grammar
+Basic Grammar
Hours: 16
Description: This course is designed for students who have an average understanding of English. It is made up of a review of the Rules of English and the Content of English (idioms and expressions, phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases). Primary emphasis is on the aspects of English common misused by Filipinos.
Description: This course is designed for students who have an average understanding of English. It is made up of a review of the Rules of English and the Content of English (idioms and expressions, phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases). Primary emphasis is on the aspects of English common misused by Filipinos.
+ Topics
- The Rules of English
- Overview of the Parts of Speech
- Prepositions
- Articles and Determiners
- Nouns and Pronouns
- Modifiers
- Verbs
- Subject-Verb Agreement
- Simple and Progressive Tenses
- Sentence Structure
- The Content of English
- Vocabulary
- Idioms and Expressions
- Phrasal Verbs and Prepositional Phrases
Prerequisite: None
+Advanced Grammar
Hours: 08
Description: The Advanced Grammar program provides a review of both essential grammatical and structural features while introducing their finer points. Emphasis is placed on compound and complex sentence structure and is designed to lead participants towards active mastery of the patterns and principles of formal written English.
This course aims to build on the syntactic knowledge that students have gained in previous study of English grammar while introducing more advanced structures, as well as the finer nuances of tenses and aspect of English verbs. Equally important is the goal of strengthening the participants' abilities to produce the new grammatical structures in a variety of communicative contexts.
Description: The Advanced Grammar program provides a review of both essential grammatical and structural features while introducing their finer points. Emphasis is placed on compound and complex sentence structure and is designed to lead participants towards active mastery of the patterns and principles of formal written English.
This course aims to build on the syntactic knowledge that students have gained in previous study of English grammar while introducing more advanced structures, as well as the finer nuances of tenses and aspect of English verbs. Equally important is the goal of strengthening the participants' abilities to produce the new grammatical structures in a variety of communicative contexts.
+ Topics
- Review of the Simple and Progressive Tenses
- Perfect and Perfect-Progressive Tenses
- Modal Auxiliaries
- Passive and Active Voice
- Adjectival Clauses
- Noun Clauses
- Adverbial Clauses
- Gerunds and Infinitives
- Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers
- Types of Sentences
Prerequisite: Basic Grammar or successful completion of the Basic to Intermediate pre-training assessment test.
+Basic Writing
Hours: 16
Description: This course develops and reinforces students' organizational skills through an understanding of the writing structure and process. Essential principles of grammar and sentence structure are covered and students are introduced to the rhetorical modes of narration, description, and comparison-contrast. Primary emphasis is on strengthening foundational skills and establishing effective writing strategies through writing activities.
Description: This course develops and reinforces students' organizational skills through an understanding of the writing structure and process. Essential principles of grammar and sentence structure are covered and students are introduced to the rhetorical modes of narration, description, and comparison-contrast. Primary emphasis is on strengthening foundational skills and establishing effective writing strategies through writing activities.
+ Topics
- Introduction and Application of the Basic Writing Structure
- Writing Process: Pre-writing, drafting, revising and editing
- Understanding of the Rhetorical Context: Concepts of Voice, Audience, and Purpose
- Writing Essays with an Introduction, Body and Conclusion
- Identification of and Correcting Grammatical and Stylistic Errors
Prerequisite: Basic Grammar
+Business Writing
Hours: 16
Description: Business Writing refers to the form of writing used for communication within an organization and between organizations that is usually intended to request, inform, or persuade. This course focuses heavily on two primary skills: the ability to fully develop an idea, and the ability to express that idea clearly, logically and concisely. Participants are taught to use punctuation, sentence structure and vocabulary as tools to achieve these goals.
Description: Business Writing refers to the form of writing used for communication within an organization and between organizations that is usually intended to request, inform, or persuade. This course focuses heavily on two primary skills: the ability to fully develop an idea, and the ability to express that idea clearly, logically and concisely. Participants are taught to use punctuation, sentence structure and vocabulary as tools to achieve these goals.
+ Topics
- Elements of Writing
- Active vs. Passive Voice
- Modifiers: Placement of Adjectives and Adverbs
- Conjunctions
- Sentence Clarity: Modifiers, Parallel Structure
- Building Sentences: Types of Sentences
- Transition Words
- Wordiness and How to Avoid Wordiness
- Communication: Effective/Ineffective, Oral vs. Written
- Effective Written Communication
- The Writing Process and Revising
- Writing Styles, Structure/Outline, Direct vs. Indirect Approach
- Routine Correspondence: E-mail, Letter of Inquiry and Reply to an Inquiry
Prerequisite: Basic and Advanced Grammar
+Communication Skills
Hours: 24
Description: Communication skills in the workplace are among the most important aspects of organizational dynamics. They affect workplace relationships, departmental relations, company culture and the financial health of the organization. Clear, concise, and effective communication promotes openness, enables projects and processes to more forward, and enhances relationships.
This workshop is designed to promote discussion and exploration of communication issues. It begins with basic communication principles followed by detailed discussions in the areas of interpersonal skills, listening skills, and conflict resolution techniques.
Description: Communication skills in the workplace are among the most important aspects of organizational dynamics. They affect workplace relationships, departmental relations, company culture and the financial health of the organization. Clear, concise, and effective communication promotes openness, enables projects and processes to more forward, and enhances relationships.
This workshop is designed to promote discussion and exploration of communication issues. It begins with basic communication principles followed by detailed discussions in the areas of interpersonal skills, listening skills, and conflict resolution techniques.
+ Topics
- The Principles of Effective Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Listening Skills
- Effective Meetings and Discussions
- Conflict Resolution
Prerequisite: Basic and Advanced Grammar
+Presentation Skills
Hours: 24
Description: Effective communication is the key to success in our professional and personal lives. A team or an individual's success is dependent upon the strategy and respect accorded through communication may it be oral or written. It is what makes an effective team and an efficient individual. This course is designed to hone each participant's presentation skills from planning to organizing and delivering a coherent presentation.
Description: Effective communication is the key to success in our professional and personal lives. A team or an individual's success is dependent upon the strategy and respect accorded through communication may it be oral or written. It is what makes an effective team and an efficient individual. This course is designed to hone each participant's presentation skills from planning to organizing and delivering a coherent presentation.
+ Topics
- From a Shy to a Confident Speaker
- Planning a Presentation: Purpose and Audience
- The Opening/Introduction
- The Body
- The Ending/Conclusion
- Putting It All Together
- Delivering the Presentation
Prerequisite: Basic Grammar and/or Conversational English
+Accent Neutralization
Hours: 30
Description: This course focuses on the Sounds of English, and includes instruction on pronunciation, rhythm and intonation. The program begins with a discussion on the differences between Filipino and American pronunciation of English, and then moves into practical exercises designed to eliminate those differences.
Description: This course focuses on the Sounds of English, and includes instruction on pronunciation, rhythm and intonation. The program begins with a discussion on the differences between Filipino and American pronunciation of English, and then moves into practical exercises designed to eliminate those differences.
+ Topics
- The Sounds of English
- Tagalog vs. English pronunciation
- English spelling vs. pronunciation
- Phonemes and the Schwa Sound
- Letter combinations
- Silent letters
- Problem sounds for Filipinos
- Long E, the "Advil A", TH, F, V, B, Z
- Did-dead-deed; Rake-rock-rack distinctions
- Substituted sounds
- Th, P-F, B-V, S-Z,
- Lax vowels
- Voiced and Unvoiced sounds
- Incomplete sounds
- Reduced Vowels
- Reduced Forms
- Syllable stress
- Word Stress
- Blending (Liaisons)
- Intonation and Pausing
Prerequisite: None
+TOEFL/IELTS Review
Hours: 24
Description: This course is designed for students who want to work or study in countries that use English as their primary language: The USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the like. It begins with a short orientation to what the TOEFL is, its four testing phases (Reading Listening, Speaking and Writing), and its grading system. This is followed by practice exercises to bench mark their initial virtual scores for each of the four testing phases -- their improvement will be tracked based on these initial scores. The students are then familiarized with different question types and formats, and how to answer them. Special emphasis is placed on focus, pace, and strategy.
Description: This course is designed for students who want to work or study in countries that use English as their primary language: The USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the like. It begins with a short orientation to what the TOEFL is, its four testing phases (Reading Listening, Speaking and Writing), and its grading system. This is followed by practice exercises to bench mark their initial virtual scores for each of the four testing phases -- their improvement will be tracked based on these initial scores. The students are then familiarized with different question types and formats, and how to answer them. Special emphasis is placed on focus, pace, and strategy.
+ Topics
- Test Familiarization
- Efficiency Techniques
- Pronunciation
- The Reading Test
- The Listening Test
- The Speaking Test
- The Writing Test
- Before and On Exam Day
Prerequisite: Conversational English
+British English
Hours: 40
Description: This course is designed to give students a better understanding of British English and provide the tools for continuous future learning. The course covers the differences between American and British English, British English accents and dialects, as well as British slang and idioms, geography, history and culture.
Description: This course is designed to give students a better understanding of British English and provide the tools for continuous future learning. The course covers the differences between American and British English, British English accents and dialects, as well as British slang and idioms, geography, history and culture.
+ Topics
- British English vs. American English
- British English Accents and Dialects
- British Slang and Idioms
- Rhythm and Stress Patterns
- Pausing and Breathing
- Accent Familiarization
- Intensive Listening Practice
- British Culture
- British Business Norm, Etiquette and Style
Prerequisite: None
+Australian English
Hours: 40
Description: This course is designed to give students a better understanding of Australian English and provide the tools for continuous future learning. The course covers the differences between Australian and American English, Australian English accents and dialects, as well as Aussie slang and idioms, geography, history and culture.
Description: This course is designed to give students a better understanding of Australian English and provide the tools for continuous future learning. The course covers the differences between Australian and American English, Australian English accents and dialects, as well as Aussie slang and idioms, geography, history and culture.
+ Topics
- Australian Business Culture and Etiquette
- Phonology : Australian English Accents and Dialects including vowel and consonant sounds, intonation, rhythm and stress patterns
- Australian Slang and Idioms, Phrasal Verbs and Collocations and Proverbs
- Conversational English: Filipino Problems with Prepositions, Tag Questions and Non-Count Nouns
- Accent Familiarization and Intensive Listening Practice (authentic Australian texts)
- Role Play, Assignments, Appraisal and Testing
Prerequisite: None
British English Training
Australian English Training
