English as a Second Language

Studying English as a Second Language provides international students with not just the language of communication, but also greater access to culture and tradition. An ESL course also supports the vocabulary underlying better understanding of all other courses at CCSS.

Course structure

At CCSS all international students whose first language is not English are expected to participate in an ESL programme, unless they can show a high level of proficiency in English and provide proof of a suitable, recognised qualification, such as an IELTS score of 6.5 in each component of the IELTS examination.

This is an intensive course, designed to enhance students’ educational and employment opportunities. Studying in English can be a daunting prospect for many foreign language students. So the aim of this course is to help students develop their communication skills for academic as well as general purposes.

We prepare students to deal with a range of topics, including leisure, sport, education, entertainment, animals, travel, transport and the environment. There is an emphasis on students developing key academic skills, such as note taking and summary writing, which can be applied to other subject areas. Students are also given systematic grammar and vocabulary support so that they can communicate effectively both orally and on paper. In addition, different styles of writing are analysed and developed.

Assessment details

International students in their GCSE year generally take an IGCSE ESL course which leads to an examination in May. 

The IGCSE ESL exam, which follows the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) syllabus, tests the four main skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking. These are assessed in either the ‘core’ examination paper where the grades available are C to G, or in the ‘extended’ paper where the grades available are A to E. 

Students are also encouraged to take the FCE (First Certificate in English) examination in June. This exam is internationally recognised and tests all of the above mentioned skills and grammar.

After the GCSE course

Students taking an ESL course at CCSS improve their language skills and this gives them a dramatic advantage when studying any subject at A-level or beyond.