Special Focus Classes

Real-world English your can use today

Real-world English you can use today

Experiential learning is a huge part of studying at EC, but what is it? At EC you don’t just study and memorise language. Instead, you learn the language and skills and then immediately practise them in real-life situations, both inside and out of the classroom.

Our core lessons, our rich social programme, and our Special Focus Classes give you the chance to practise and use English in real-life situations. 

What are Special Focus Classes  

All General English courses include 20 core language lessons, lessons that will develop your language and your skills to build on your ability to communicate in English. If you want to take advantage of your time at EC, and take your language to a higher level, you can add a Special Focus Class.

These classes let you personalise your course and focus on the English you need most whether it is for work, travel, exams, or simply to improve your grammar, there is something for everyone.

Course options

Each lesson lasts 45 minutes. The options available depend on location.

General English

Practical understanding and basic language skills

Study mode

20 General English Lessons per week

Includes 4 Special Focus Classes per week 

Locations: 30+ schools, USA and Canada

Min. course length: 1 week

Lesson length: 45 min

Requirements: All levels

Every Monday

General English

Practical understanding and basic language skills

Study mode

20 General English Lessons per week

Includes 6 Special Focus Classes per week 

Locations: 30+ schools, USA and Canada

Min. course length: 1 week

Lesson length: 45 min

Requirements: All levels

Every Monday

General English

Practical understanding and basic language skills

Study mode

20 General English Lessons per week

Includes 10 Special Focus Classes per week 

Locations: All schools

Min. course length: 1 week

Lesson length: 45 min

Requirements: All levels

Every Monday

View all our general English courses

What should I focus on?

In your Special Focus Class, you will focus on a specific area, based on your needs and interests. You could work on your grammar or your speaking or combine in-class and outside-the-class learning with English in the City.

Before you arrive at your EC school, you can take your placement test and set your own personal learning goal on MyEC. On your first day the academic team will use this information to find the best Special Focus Class to help you achieve your goal, and work on your weaker areas.

What makes Special Focus Classes so “special”?

Whether you are learning English to travel, for work, or for personal reasons effective communication is the key to success. And to be successful in a global environment, you need to be able to communicate with people from around the world, people with different accents and levels of English.

In your Special Focus Classes, you will meet students from other classes, and levels. You will learn to not just communicate at your level but to communicate effectively with people from all over the world with English levels both above and below your own.

These communication skills will ensure you can speak confidently in any situation.

Pick the Special Focus Class that fits your interests and goals. 

Here are some popular examples: 

English for Work 

Use English confidently in professional situations. 

You practise the English language and skills you need to communicate effectively and be successful in any workplace. 

Experiential outcomes: 

Role-play meetings, negotiations and workplace conversations 
Write real emails, reports and messages 
Prepare and deliver presentations and interviews 
Master professional vocabulary in context

Learn More

English in the City 

Use English in everyday life. 

Each week you will learn the language and skills you need to navigate and enjoy the city you are living in. You and your classmates will then use this language and these skills during an out-of-class excursion. Then you’ll return to class for your final lesson to discuss how it went and what you learnt. This class links your learning to real experiences in the city. 

Experiential outcomes: 

Order in cafés, shop, use public transport and services 
Ask for directions, solve problems and make small talk 
Handle real daily situations with ease 
Build confidence using English outside class from day one

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Speaking with Confidence

Speak naturally and fluently in real conversations. 

Speaking confidently isn’t just about knowing the grammar and vocabulary of a language. There’s so much more to it. In this class you’ll learn to communicate across cultures; you’ll learn the skills you need to take your turn in group discussions, or to speak publicly. Focus on real communication instead of aiming for perfect grammar. 

Experiential outcomes: 

Have natural group discussions and conversations 
React quickly and clearly in real situations 
Gain confidence by speaking more and hesitating less

Grammar for Real Communication 

Use grammar accurately when you actually speak and write. 

Knowing grammar structures is important, but in this class, you’ll learn to use a range of structures together to have real-life conversations.

Experiential outcomes: 

Apply grammar immediately in conversations and tasks 
Correct mistakes through guided speaking and writing 
See your accuracy improve in everyday communication

Expand your Vocabulary 

Learn words and phrases that you will really use. 

Learning lists of vocabulary can help you to pass a vocabulary test but does it help you to communicate? Not necessarily. In this class, you’ll learn vocabulary in context, you’ll learn phrases, idioms, and chunks of vocabulary so that you can communicate fluently, naturally, and effectively in a range of real-life situations.

Experiential outcomes: 

Discover useful words in a meaningful context 
Use new vocabulary straight away in speaking tasks 
Remember language for longer because you actively use them

Writing with AI

Learn to write in the modern workplace.

With the rise of AI, how we write has changed completely. On this course you will learn to write emails, reports, social media posts, blogs, and proposals, but you will also learn to use AI tools to ensure your writing is clear, effective, and most importantly is written in your own voice.

Experiential outcomes: 

Write emails, texts, forms and social media posts 
Improve structure, clarity and accuracy with feedback 
Feel confident sending written English to others

Learn more

Exam Skills

Get ready for exams by practising with real exam tasks. 

Whether you’re preparing for IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, or another high stakes exam, it’s not just about knowing the language. It’s important you know the test and how to take it. In this class, you’ll learn the key skills you need to navigate the test and get the best score possible for you.

Experiential outcomes: 