English Courses
ONE-TO-ONE LESSONS
Finnish Language Training
General English
Daytime courses
Distance learning courses
General English (intensive courses)
English for Professionals
Preparation courses for Cambridge Exams
Timetables and fees
Course books
Course enrolment
Professional Training
Courses abroad
English courses spring 2010
• Small groups
• Friendly atmosphere
• Effective learning
FINNBRIT arranges open English language courses on its premises at every level. Our experienced native English-speaking teachers provide encouraging and up-to-date training on vocabulary & grammar improvement, conversation skills and Cambridge Examination training using varied teaching methods. Training takes place in the mornings, during lunch hour and in the evenings.
If you wish to study English abroad, FINNBRIT acts as an agent for select language schools in Britain and Malta and will give you advice with your applications. Please contact us!
ASSESS YOUR LEVEL
FINNBRIT is developing its teaching methods and course portfolio on an on-going basis. The course levels comply with those of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This, we hope will make personal study planning and evaluation clearer and easier. This new framework will simplify comparing courses in different European countries.
THE LEVELS OF THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK OF REFERENCE FOR LANGUAGES
Proficient User |
C2 | Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely. |
| C1 | Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. |
|
Independent User |
B2 | Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. |
| B1 | Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. |
|
Basic User |
A2 | Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. |
| A1 | Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. |
FREE LEVEL TESTING AND PERSONAL STUDY PLANNING
Free level testing Monday 29 March between 11.00 - 16.00. Book a time by phone or email. The test includes a written and a spoken element. The evaluation and personal study planning are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The test is free of charge and takes about 40 minutes.
Please study the framework carefully and consider your own level and your aims. A personal study plan based on this will be drafted with the help of the teacher after the level testing. This will enable you to choose the correct course for your needs.
ONE-TO-ONE LESSONS
English Language Training
FINNBRIT provides personal and flexible training to meet your needs and your individual schedule at your place of work or our offices. A personal study plan (content, learning style, level and materials) will be made and you'll get continuous feedback on your progress.
As a Cambridge exam centre, we have to ensure the standard of our personnel. All our teaching staff are native English speakers and hold internationally recognized TEFL certificates & a minimum of 5 years experience. Moreover, all our trainers have undergone Cambridge examiner training, which is annually reinforced.
Therefore FINNBRIT teachers are able to provide highly focused courses, that allow students to maximize their potential within the internationally recognized Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Our teachers also have several specialist backgrounds such as marketing, business communications, advanced discussions and professional writing. By taking advantage of the special skills and accomplishments of our staff, combining it with our customer centered approach, we can provide useful and effective training solutions for everyone.
Finnish Language Training
Top quality one-to-one Finnish language training; unique, personal and low-stress lessons with flexible arrangements. Everything will be tailored according to your needs and wishes.
Maximum use of the resources around Helsinki area by linking interesting visits, art exhibitions, shopping, seasons, and traditional Finnish customs to your language studies.
The teacher is a highly qualified and experienced Finnish language teacher who has a very multicultural background.
TERVETULOA !
EVENING COURSES
GENERAL ENGLISH
communicative skills at work
INDEPENDENT USER B1-B2
E-MAILING - A comprehensive look at how to improve your skills in this very important form of day-to-day written business communication.
Emphasis on tone, formality, important phrases, diplomacy, beginnings and endings and polished sentence construction to make you more self-confident in this vital and under-rated skill.
TELEPHONE ENGLISH - No more running to your work colleague to take that phone call in English. The lessons will give you a step-by-step guide on how to handle phone calls in English in a confident and competent manner.
PRESENTATIONS - Giving a presentation in a foreign language is a big challenge.
The lessons will show you how to make a professional and interesting presentation in English in an enjoyable and stress free way.
MEETINGS AND NEGOTIATIONS - How to make yourself relevant, confident, assertive and diplomatic in these important fields. The lessons will show you how to get your opinions across in a self-confident and professional style.
SOCIALISING IN THE BUSINESS WORLD - These lessons will encourage you to develop your social skills with other people and business clients, to make you able to social network with more confidence, to be able to make your clients and yourself feel more at ease in every day business socializing.
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES - Emphasis on avoiding cultural misunderstandings when dealing in the English language.
BUSINESS LETTERS - Some training on good business writing.
THIS COURSE WILL TRY TO ACTIVATE ALL THESE SKILLS IN A PLEASANT AND STRESS FREE CLASS ENVIRONMENT
THE TEACHER, MALCOLM FAY, HAS BEEN TEACHING THIS COURSE FOR 10 YEARS AND HAS A VAST AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD.
ENGLISH FOR BEGINNERS
BASIC USER A2 level and B1 level
Do you want to learn basic English skills and to understand simple texts? Do you want to communicate in everyday situations and understand short notices and simple spoken directions?
During the course you learn to use the language from real life situations and cover the four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. The course encourages you to improve your language skills in travelling, studying and working situations.
IMPROVE your grammar & vocabulary courses
INDEPENDENT USER B1-B2 level and PROFICIENT USER C1 level.
Brush up your grammar and vocabulary and improve your spoken English.
Objectives:
*
The use of tenses - phrasal verbs - the differences between gerunds and infinitives
*
Building important vocabulary, nouns, verbs, adjectives and using them in speech
* Avoiding common mistakes that Finns make in grammatical structures.
* Learning how to use prepositions and articles correctly.
ACTIVATE YOUR CONVERSATION and build your vocabulary
INDEPENDENT USER B1-B2 and B2-C1
This is for people who want to improve their speaking skills, or re-activate their social conversation skills. The emphasis is on activating your desire to improve your spoken communication skills in English.
Objectives: lessons will involve discussions around a range of topics, 'small talk' conversation skills, and some revision of associated grammar and vocabulary relating to spoken English. This course will give a valuable boost for your self-confidence.
Methods: small group exercises, pair-work, role-plays, continuous feedback. Lessons are informal and often fun, so prepare to get involved!
Sounds good!
Liven up your English pronunciation with a short course to improve your pronunciation skills.
The first course is aimed at identifying difficult sounds, and how to cope with them. The continuation course looks at how to make your speech sound more interesting through intonation, stress and language. Students will practise making short speeches and presentations which will be recorded and reviewed with the group. Intermediate and above.
Effective email communication
Level B2
A comprehensive look at how to improve your skills in this very important form of day-to-day written business communication.
Emphasis on tone, formality, important phrases, diplomacy, beginnings and endings and polished sentence construction to make you more self-confident in this vital and under-rated skill.
Write now!
"Write now!" is a distance learning course suitable for a wide range of learners who wish to practise their writing skills without the constraints of regular classroom attendance. The course is also suitable for IELTS candidates wishing to prepare for their test (both academic and general papers). The writing assignments will cover a range of styles and genres. The students will improve and refine their writing skills through regular practice and continuous feedback.
The weekly assignments are reviewed by an experienced tutor and detailed individual feedback will be given on each task. In addition, each student will have two telephone tutorials with the tutor to discuss his or her progress. At the end of the course the students receive a course report that summarises their strengths and weaknesses and gives recommendations for further study.
Course requirements:
A good intermediate level of English or above.
A computer with a word processing application (eg MS word).
An email account.
Phone-in tutorials (or Skype) are at student's charge.
Course Outline
-Enrolment
-Weekly writing tasks
-Tutorials
-Self-evaluation report
-Final report
ENGLISH FOR PROFESSIONALS
BUSINESS Presentations and Negotiations
PROFICIENT USER C1
Taking part in active meetings where you are actively involved with other English speakers involves both presentation and negotiation skills. This course gives extensive practice in debating and discussing, with topics from daily life as well as work-related themes.
Objectives
• Plan effective presentations and negotiations
• Extensive practise and expansion of experience
• Fulfill audience expectations
Methods
• Small group exercises
• Regular change of roles
• Developing question techniques
• Continuous feedback
LEGAL ENGLISH
INDEPENDENT USER B2 and PROFICIENT USER C1 level.
The training will cover both written and oral skills.
The focus of the written skills element of the training will be on legal writing, with particular emphasis on contract drafting and legal terminology. The oral element will be orientated towards conducting negotiations and making presentations.
The training has two aims:
• to act as a refresher course in respect of the key areas of legal English usage; and
• to provide tools for participants to increase their effectiveness in legal drafting and legal communication.
Specific content
• Principles of legal writing style
• The key differences between British and American English
• Contract overview: principles, structure, content, language
• Correspondence: letters and emails
• Oral presentations
• Negotiation and drafting
Professional writing course
PROFICIENT USER C1 level
The rationale behind the course is to train participants to package and present information for a native English audience. This course is suitable for IELTS preparation.
Course content:
• Change and development
• Trends and statistics
• Formal letter writing
• Reports and proposals
• Writing style improvement
DAYTIME COURSES
Have you read...?
INDEPENDENT USER Level B2 – C1
In this course you will find your vocabulary, grammar and speaking skills improving automatically as we read and discuss short pieces from a variety of English language (British, American, African, Indian etc) books. Each week you will be given something to read at home then the following week we will discuss it and check any unfamiliar vocabulary. Active participation is expected.
morning talk and tea
BASIC USER Level A2 – INDEPENDENT USER B1
A class aimed at foreigners living in Finland who wish to improve their conversation skills. This is an informal class, where we will talk about every day topics: Finland, families, lifestyle, health, education, travel and so on. Level A2-B1 (pre-intermediate / intermediate).
TRAINING FOR IELTS EXAMINATIONS
TRAINING FOR IELTS EXAMINATIONS
1. FINNBRIT IELTS PREPARATION DAY
Tips for candidates: how to prepare for the IELTS exam. An overview of each section including sample tasks.
When Once a month: 13.2.2010, 13.3.2010 at 9:00 - 15:15
What The day includes four modules:
1. at 9.00-10.00 a.m. Listening module (60 min)
2. at 10.15-11.45 a.m. Reading module (90 min)
3. at 12.15-14.00 p.m. Writing module (120 min)
4. at 14.15-15.15 p.m. Speaking module (60 min)
Experienced native English speaking teachers will cover:
• Overview of each section
• Recommendations on exam technique
• A brief explanation of the assessment criteria
• Timed practice using sample tasks
• Feedback and recommendations for independent study
Cost Full day 160 €, min. 6 people
Registration by 8 February 2010, finnbrit@finnbrit.fi or tel. 09 6877 0240
Venue: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9, 00120 Helsinki
2. FOCUSSED IELTS PREPARATION SESSIONS
When: Once a month.
Monday 25 Jan at 17-19 p.m. / Writing module
Cost: 50 €
Tuesday 26 Jan at 17.30-18.30 p.m. / Reading module
Cost: 40 €
Wednesday 27 Jan at 17-18 p.m. / Listening module
Cost: 35 €
Wednesday 27 Jan at 18.15-19.15 p.m. / Speaking module
Cost: 35 €
Next time 1.3.-3.3.
Min. 3 people
Registration by 20 January: finnbrit@finnbrit.fi or tel. 09-68770240
Venue: FINNBRIT, Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9, 00120 Helsinki
3. FINNBRIT- IELTS ONLINE PREPARATION PACKAGE
Do you need revision advice and support for your forthcoming IELTS exam?
FINNBRIT now offers a basic online preparation package for both the writing and speaking modules. You will receive an overview of the module, revision tasks for submission to one of our language trainers, followed by detailed feedback tailored to your needs.
4. ONE-TO-ONE IELTS TUITION
Our experienced examiner teachers can provide personal preparation help you based on your needs and wishes.
Do you wish to book one of our preparation packages?
Please contact Tuija Peussa by email tuija.peussa(at)finnbrit.fi or phone 09-687 70230
INTENSIVE COURSES
DEVELOP YOUR WRITING IN ENGLISH
The rationale behind the course is to train participants to package and present information for a native English audience.
IMPROVE YOUR CONVERSATION SKILLS AND SELF-CONFIDENCE
This intensive day will focus on building your self-confidence when speaking in English, and also concentrates on expanding your vocabulary.
BRUSH UP YOUR GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
A one-day’s course covering some of the tricky features of English grammar - especially verb tenses and prepositions. Also some lighter spoken activites to extend you vocabulary, especially concerning
work activites.
Venue: The courses are held at the FINNBRIT premises, Fredrikinkatu 20 A 9, 00120 Helsinki. (Tram 3, buses 14 & 16.)
For more information please contact Tuija Peussa at FINNBRIT, 09-68770230 or
e-mail finnbrit@finnbrit.fi
New strategies for communication - a workshop
INDEPENDENT USER B2- PROFICIENCT USER C1
Develop your presentation and negotiation skills and get more out of your international meetings, seminars and conferences.
-Practise and gain confidence
-Fulfill audience expectations
-Plan effective negotiations
INTENSIVE ADVANCED WRITING COURSE
PROFICIENCT USER C1 - C2
To produce well-structured formal texts that convey intended meaning is critical to professional and academic success; particularly if writing in a second or other language. Therefore, this Intensive Writing Course offers practical guidelines and resources to facilitate this aim.
Objective
The objective of the Intensive Writing Course is to provide participants with a structure for a written report, practical writing techniques, as well as advice on improving one’s individual way of writing in English.
Key topics
• Trends and graphs
• Formal correspondence
• Reports
• Summaries
• On-line resources and support
Method
Cooperative learning with in-class and home-based assignments, supported by model answers, language exercises and personal feedback.
Further enquiries at the office.
PREPARATION FOR INTERNATIONALLY VALID CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATIONS
Are you the kind of person who wants to act spontaneously to real-life language situations and at the same time gain an internationally recognized language qualification? Or do you just wish to develop your English language skills covering all the aspects of language use?
If the answer is yes – Cambridge examination courses are for you!
General English Examination Courses
There are three levels of Cambridge examination courses ranging from Independent User to Proficient User. At each level, the exam tests your language competence in these five areas: reading, writing, listening, use of English grammar and vocabulary, and speaking - providing effective and comprehensive English training.
First Certificate in English (FCE)
INDEPENDENT USER B2
This is an independent-user level course for those of you who want to study for the FCE examination. It is a popular exam in Finland, and is widely recognised in many walks of life, both in Britain and abroad, as proof of an intermediate level of English.
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
PROFICIENT USER C1
This proficienct-user level course is a natural follow-on from the FCE exam, and is ideal for those who want to study for the CAE exam. The CAE exam is based on practical real-world tasks, and is especially appropriate for professional or study purposes. (It is accepted by many British universities and colleges as an English Language entrance requirement.)
Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
PROFICIENT USER C2
The examination is the highest of the three Cambridge upper levels. A certificate at Proficiency level demonstrates an extremely good command of English. It is also recognised as fulfilling English-language requirements for British universities and for business and academic purposes overseas at postgraduate level.
Business and Legal English Examination Courses
Business English Certificates (BEC HIGHER)
PROFICIENT USER C1
If you are a business professional who needs English in your everyday work, or who attends international conferences, or someone who needs to show that you can handle any business English situation, BEC is the course for you.
Cambridge offers the Business English Certificates (BEC) for those who want to demonstrate their competence in international business English.
A pass at BEC Higher is recognised as the English language entry standard to study business at British tertiary level institutions. BEC Preliminary and Vantage are stepping stones to achieving this standard.
BEC is not designed to test students’ business competence. Its sole aim is to improve language skills.
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ENGLISH CERTIFICATE (ILEC)
PROFICIENCT USER C1
English is an essential tool for any lawyer working with international matters. It is the lingua franca of the legal profession, of business and international affairs.
Employers need to know that the legal staff they appoint have a sufficient level of English to be able to communicate with clients and professionals in other countries, and to handle information written in English.
At the same time, law students and newly-qualified lawyers need to be able to show employers that they have these skills. The new Cambridge ILEC - International Legal English Certificate - was created to meet these needs.
- High-level language qualification for lawyers
- Internationally recognised
Training available on request.
Further details from the office.