We offer a variety of English courses to suit different levels and a range of needs, from Business English to English for Exams, from short intensive programmes to extensive courses to prepare you for university study.
General English
All courses are 4 weeks in duration. Students can choose from any combination of the following (maximum 6 hours of study per day):
Standard General English [4 hours per day]
Our core English course with an integrated approach to all skills. Students are provided with course books. 08.15 – 12.45.
Extension [1 hour per day]
An extension class focusing on specific language areas (i.e. listening, speaking, pronunciation, grammar). The focus of these classes changes on a monthly basis. 14.45 – 15.45.
Self-Access [1 hour per day]
An additional hour of self-study. Students can make use of our extensive computer room materials as well as a library, quiet room and listening lab. We provide free broadband internet access to all full time students. Special Student “Clubs” are also run during this period such as Games Club, Debate Club, etc. 13.45 – 14.45 or 14.45 – 15.45*
*Course times are staggered to make maximum use of our self-access facilities.
Please note – the minimum age requirement for all courses is 17.
Course dates for 2021
- 11 January – 05 February
- 08 February – 05 March
- 08 March – 01 April
- 06 April – 29 April
- 03 May – 28 May
- 31 May- 25 June
- 28 June – 23 July
- 02 August – 27 August
- 30 August – 23 September
- 27 September – 22 October
- 25 October – 19 November
- 22 November – 17 December
Public Holidays – the school is closed on the following dates: 22 March, 2 April, 03 April, 05 April, 27 April, 01 May, 16 June, 26 July until 30 July, 09 August, 24 September and 16 December. We are closed from 20 December until January 2024. (Please note that Public Holidays will not be recompensed).
One-to-One classes
These are private classes with an experienced teacher, tailored to your specific needs. Past One-to-One courses have included: report writing, pronunciation, literacy, preparation for the Cambridge ESOL exams as well as general and business English. Starting dates are flexible.
Class Levels
IH Johannesburg offers all levels from Beginner through to Advanced.* All students are interviewed and tested upon arrival and placed into a class. New students are then monitored by their teacher for the first few days to ensure they are in the appropriate level.
| Corresponding level at IH Johannesburg | Overall competency description | Cambridge Exams | IELTS | Council of Europe Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proficiency B Proficiency A Advanced B | Fully operational command of the language at a high level in most situations, e.g. can argue a case confidently, justifying and making points persuasively. | Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) | Band 9 Band 8 | C2 |
| Advanced A Lower-Advanced B Lower-Advanced A | Good operational command of the language in a wide range of real world situations, e.g. can participate effectively in discussions and meetings. | Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) | Band 7 | C1 |
| Pre-Advanced B Pre-Advanced A Upper-Intermediate B Upper-Intermediate A | Generally effective command of the language in a range of situations. e.g. can make a contribution to discussions on practical matters. | First Certificate in English (FCE) | Band 6 Band 5 | B2 Vantage |
| Intermediate B Intermediate A Pre-Intermediate B Pre-Intermediate A | Limited but effective command of the language in familiar situations, e.g. can take part in a routine meeting on familiar topics, particularly in an exchange of simple factual information. | Preliminary English Test (PET) | Band 4 Band 3 | B1 Threshold |
| Elementary B Elementary A Beginners | Basic command of the language needed in a range of familiar situations, e.g. can understand and pass on simple messages. | Key English Test (KET) | Band 2 Band 1 | A2 Waystage A1 Breakthrough |
Student Progress
Assessment
Students are continually assessed throughout the course and their teachers are always available to assist and provide guidance. At the end of every 4-week course, students are tested and will either move to the next level or continue at the same level depending on their evaluation. Students are given a progress report at the end of every 4-week course. Upon completion of their studies, all students are presented with a certificate indicating the final level passed.
Self-Access
During their first week at IH, students are given an introduction to the Self-Access Centre. Students receive on-going support with their self-access study by their morning teacher, the librarian and computer room assistant.
English Improvement Course for South Africans
This part-time course takes place over six Saturday mornings from 08h00 till 12h30, at a total of 24 hours, at our premises in Braamfontein. It is aimed at South Africans who speak English as their second or third language and covers both general and business English.
Based on the needs of the class, a selection of the following topics will be covered during the course:
- Social English
- Business Correspondence
- Language for Meetings
- Job Interviews
- Presentations
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
Course dates for 2021
- 16 January – 20 February
- 27 February – 27 March
- 10 April – 15 May
- 22 May – 26 June
- 03 July – 07 August
- 14 August – 18 September
- 25 September – 30 October
- 06 November – 11 December
Cost of the course
The cost of the course is R3,100.00. This includes:
- A dictionary
- All course materials
- Refreshments
Your place is confirmed upon payment of a R1,800.00 deposit. The balance of R1,300.00 is due by no later than the third Saturday of the course. Please bring a photo ID document on the first day of registration.
Please note that the course will only run with a minimum of five (5) registered candidates.
A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Please email the application form with your proof of payment and bring the original documents with you on the start of the course.
For queries or additional information, please contact Maloba on 011 339 1051 / [email protected].
Aviation English
Aviation English Testing
International House Johannesburg is recognised by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) as an Aviation English testing centre.
We are the only official testing centre in sub-Saharan Africa for the EALTS test of English for Aviation. The EALTS conforms to all ICAO standards and recommended practices in language proficiency assessments and is approved by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
The EALTS test is suitable for experienced flight crew and air traffic controllers and it is internationally recognized by employers, professional registration bodies and national licensing authorities as evidence of attainment of the language proficiency required by ICAO.
Aviation English Training
We provide language tuition for flight crew and air traffic controllers who need to attain ICAO Operational Level 4 but also for those who are already at Operational Level 4 and are aiming to achieve Level 5 or Level 6.
Courses are 6 hours per day Monday through Friday. All courses are 4 weeks in duration. The number of courses needed depends on the student’s level at the start of the course. Generally, flight crew and air traffic controllers who are at Level 3 at the beginning of a course will require two to three months of full-time study; however, this differs from individual to individual.
The daily schedule for Aviation English course generally consists of:
- 4 hours of General English
- 1 hours of Aviation English
- 1 hour of Self-study using Aviation English interactive software
For more details on Aviation English training and testing, or to register to take the Aviation English test, please e-mail [email protected] or phone +27 11 339 1051.
IH Johannesburg offers
- Two computer laboratories with internet access
- Wi-Fi for your mobile device
- A wide range of computer software to practise both General English and English for Specific purposes
- A canteen serving hot and cold food
- Comfortable and well-equipped classrooms
- A library with a wide selection of books, audio readers, magazines and newspapers
- A quiet room for self-study
IH Johannesburg (The Language Lab) Contact Details
Telephone: +27 (11) 339 1051
Email: [email protected]
Postal address PO Box 32712 Braamfontein 2017
Address 4th Floor – Aspern House 54 De Korte Street BRAAMFONTEIN 2001 Johannesburg