student guide 2020...if using a phone or tablet, you will need to have an application to access your...
TRANSCRIPT
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St Giles
Live
154 Southampton Row
London WC1B 5JX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7837 0404
Email: [email protected]
STUDENT
GUIDE
2020
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Contents A warm welcome to St Giles International Live ................................................................................. 3
Our Mission Statement .............................................................................................................. 4
Before your classes begin .......................................................................................................... 5
Zoom basics .......................................................................................................................... 6
Class Schedule ....................................................................................................................... 7
Making Progress ..................................................................................................................... 8
Examinations ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
Typical lessons at St Giles ....................................................................................................... 11
Expectations of our students ..................................................................................................... 12
The Student Disciplinary Code… ................................................................................................ 13
Attendance .......................................................................................................................... 13
Who can help? ..................................................................................................................... 14
If you have a problem... ........................................................................................................... 16
Are You Unhappy About Anything? Want to Make a Complaint? ......................................................... 16
The Social Programme ............................................................................................................ 17
Students under the age of 18 .................................................................................................... 18
The St Giles E-Learning Zone ................................................................................................... 19
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A warm welcome to St Giles International
Live
Thank you for choosing St Giles International Live! You are about to begin a very
exciting experience! We at St Giles will do everything we can do to make your language course an enjoyable learning experience.
Our mission is to provide a high-quality, student focussed learning environment,
focussed on your real and practical needs; offer a range of student services and
help you enjoy your course.
That’s why we care about your experience from the moment you contact us. We hope you will enjoy your online learning experience, make great improvements to
your English, make lots of international friends, have fun in your classes and with our social programme, and we will do our best to support you in your language
learning journey.
Before your courses start, you will have a placement test to ensure you are placed in a suitable class. We will also send you an introductory video, so you know what
to expect from your classes and St Giles Live, introducing you to key features and our support team.
Please read the information in this guide- it has been written especially for you and
contains a lot of important information to help you enjoy your course. If you have
any questions or problems at any time during your time with us, please speak to our team of teachers, support and administrative staff. You can contact us via
email:
[email protected] – for course enquiries, enrolments and extension requests
[email protected] – for questions about your classes and academic or welfare support
[email protected] – for information and suggestions about our social
programme
We are here to help!
Jessie Goldup
Director of St Giles Live
You can also contact me with any questions you have, at [email protected]
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Our Mission Statement
St Giles promises to provide high quality courses for international students and trainee
teachers in a positive and inclusive learner-centred environment, focusing on the students’ real and practical aspirations. We promise to offer a range of student support services to
enable our students to enjoy their courses to the full.
We aim to ensure that every student’s learning experience is both beneficial and enjoyable and that all our students make progress in their English language ability, and have a
chance to share and learn about life and cultures around the world.
We aim to:
Safeguard all our students and staff so that they can study and work in a secure
environment
Maintain high standards in all our services
Offer engaging, relevant lessons in welcoming and inclusive online classrooms
Help students achieve their goals whether hoping to prepare for English language
examinations, or improve their language for university study and business needs
Help students become autonomous learners and equip them to continue their
studies after the end of their course
Provide help to those students who need additional support
Where accommodation is requested near one of our physical schools (Brighton,
Cambridge, Eastbourne, London, New York or Vancouver), to house students in
comfortable accommodation with homestay hosts who treat students with
kindness and respect, in safe and welcoming residences or in alternative
accommodation affording comfort and independence
Provide a varied and interesting social programme to allow students to make
friends, practise their English and learn more about life and culture
Be fair, ethical, responsible and professional
Value and respect people we deal with: students, trainees, overseas teachers,
agents, homestay hosts, other clients, and staff
Promote the core international values of democracy, individual liberty, tolerance,
and the rule of law
Provide staff with opportunities for training and development
Follow good professional and business practices
Provide good value for money and ensure the longer-term commercial success of
the school
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Before your classes begin
Classes run from Monday to Friday (except for Bank Holidays). You will be sent an online
placement test in the week before your first class. This will include a grammar and
vocabulary test of 60 gap fill questions and a writing task.
You will also have an online speaking interview which lasts for about 5 – 8 minutes. You
will be asked simple questions about what you do, where you come from and your English
language learning experience. This will help us to assess your level. We use Zoom for the
spoken part of the test, and you will receive an email with a Zoom link inviting you to
attend an online meeting with one of our academic team.
The online test will automatically calculate your score, but you will need to email
the writing to St Giles Live so that we can read and grade it.
After you have completed all parts of the test, we will be able to place you in the best class
for your ability and where you will be able to learn most effectively. You will be informed of
your level and the class you will join.
You will receive an email invitation to join your online class with a Zoom link. The link will
be the same while you stay with a particular class. If you have afternoon lessons, you will
receive a different Zoom invitation for that class.
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Zoom basics
Using a phone or tablet
If using a phone or tablet, you will need to have an application to access your classes:
1. Open the App Store on an iOS device or the Play Store on an Android device.
2. Search for the ‘ZOOM Cloud Meetings’ app. Tap ‘Get’, install the app and open it.
3. Tap on at the bottom left of the screen.
4. Enter your email address, first name, last (family) name and tap on the ‘I agree to the Terms of Service’ circle (after you’ve read the Terms of Service). Then tap the ‘Sign up’ option in the top right corner.
5. Go to your email – they will send you a link to activate your account.
6. Activating your account takes you to the log in page where you need to enter your
first and last (family) name, and you will need to enter a password.
7. You will then arrive at a ‘Don’t Zoom Alone’ page. You do not need to invite anyone,
so don’t worry about this. Tap on the faded ‘Skip this step’ button
8. You will receive a ‘Meeting ID’ and zoom link for your first classes, and any subsequent class changes.
9. Within the app, tap on the ‘Join’ button
10. Enter the ‘meeting ID’ into the gap and tap ‘Join’
Using your computer / laptop
If using a computer or laptop, you do not need to have any particular software to access your classes, just click on the Zoom link for your classes, which you will receive by email for your first classes, and any subsequent class changes. That link will then invite you to
join your class through your web browser.
If you have any problems connecting to your teacher or using Zoom, contact [email protected]
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Class Schedule
Times
It is important for you to join all your lessons on time. If you are late, you could miss
important information that you need to understand the lesson or to help you understand a grammar focus or activity. It is also respectful to your teacher and classmates.
We are providing lessons across 3 time zones, which are British Summer Time (BST), Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Pacific Daylight time (PDT). Within each time zone the
following are the timings based on your study programme:
20 lessons per week (Monday to Friday)
Morning lessons
Lesson 1 09.00 – 09.50
Lesson 2 10.00 – 10.50
Lesson 3 11.10 – 12.00
Lesson 4 12.10 – 13.00
28 lessons per week (Monday to Friday)
Morning lessons (Monday – Friday) Afternoon lessons (Monday – Thursday only)
Lesson 1 09.00 – 09.50 Lesson 5 14.00 – 14.50
Lesson 2 10.00 – 10.50 Lesson 6 15.00 – 15.50
Lesson 3 11.10 – 12.00
Lesson 4 12.10 – 13.00
30 lessons per week (Monday to Friday) – only available in PDT time zone
Morning lessons Afternoon lessons
Lesson 1 09.00 – 09.50 Lesson 5 14.00 – 14.50
Lesson 2 10.00 – 10.50 Lesson 6 15.00 – 15.50
Lesson 3 11.10 – 12.00
Lesson 4 12.10 – 13.00
Private lessons can be arranged at a time convenient to you.
Please contact [email protected] for more information or any questions about your booking.
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Making Progress
At St Giles Live we want you to make progress as quickly as possible.
There are several ways in which you can assess your progress during your course.
In Class
In class, your progress is measured against a detailed ‘language checklist’ for each level.
Every two weeks your teacher will give you a class test to check that you have understood what has been covered, and to check your progress generally. You will also be able to talk to your teacher privately in a one-to-one meeting about your time with St Giles. Your
teachers can then recommend when you should progress to a higher-level class.
For longer-term progress
If you are staying at St Giles for 12 weeks or longer, you can take a Level Test every 2
months. These tests are similar to the Placement Test that you took on your first day, so that the results of different tests can be compared and your progress accurately measured.
The results of your Level Test are given to your class teacher and you will be able to discuss your progress privately when you meet your teacher every two weeks. All results
of Progress Tests are put onto the Course Certificate (see picture below).
Leaving Tests
If you are staying for 4 weeks or more and attend at least
80% of your lessons, you can take a Leaving Test when you finish your course. As with the Progress Test, the Leaving
Test is similar to the Placement Test that you took on your first day. Following your Leaving Test, St Giles will provide a Course Certificate showing your level of English.
Examination Preparation Courses
Students on examination courses, such as IELTS and B2
First, will have regular assessment tasks throughout their course. In a typical exam course, students can be expected to take at least three full practice exams. This is in addition
to the many progress checks and mini-tests they will be asked to complete. Examination students are also able to
take Progress Tests and Leaving Tests as explained above.
Academic Progress Reports
You can also request an academic progress report from the Director of Studies. Please
email [email protected] for this. This report is completed by your teacher and gives you grades for your performance in class. There are also comments and
recommendations from your teacher on how to make the most of your time at St Giles.
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Examinations
Levels & Progress with Examination Equivalents
Pre-A1 /A1
Beginner /
Elementary
IELTS
0-3.0
TOEFL
10-20
TOEIC
10-300
At Elementary level (A1) you can interact with others on familiar topics using very basic phrases, be able to ask and answer simple questions, talk about numbers, quantities, cost
and time, and what you like.
A2
Pre-Intermediate IELTS
3.0-4.5
TOEFL
20-32
TOEIC
300-450
Cambridge
A2 Key
At Pre-Intermediate level (A2), you can use frequently used expressions and give your
opinion on something familiar, offer help, describe your hobbies, friends and other people, and where you live.
B1
Intermediate IELTS 4.5-5.5
TOEFL 55
TOEIC 450-
650
Cambridge B1 Preliminary
At Intermediate level (B1), you can deal with most situations while travelling and you can give reasons for your opinions, offer advice and talk easily about familiar topics such as
family and studies. You can produce simple connected texts on familiar topics.
St Giles Live offers preparation courses for the IELTS, B2 First, C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
examinations. Due to the current situation, we cannot provide information on when/where these
exams will take place. Please let us know if you have booked an exam, so your teacher can take
your timeline into account.
If you have any questions about exams or would like more information, please ask
A1
A1
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B2
Upper Intermediate IELTS 5.5-6.5
TOEFL 80
TOEIC 650-
800
Cambridge B2 FIRST
At Upper Intermediate level (B2), you can interact with native speakers without causing much difficulty or making many mistakes, correct your own mistakes, you can give a
prepared presentation or talk, put your point of view across persuasively and can produce detailed text about many subjects.
C1
Advanced IELTS
6.5-7.5
TOEFL
93
TOEIC
800+
Cambridge
C1 Advanced
At Advanced level (C1), you can use language flexibly and effectively and you can follow
and give detailed presentations on an area of your studies, participate in a formal discussion about less familiar or abstract topics and talk about many topics fluently and naturally without much difficulty.
C2
Proficiency IELTS
7.5+
TOEFL
105
TOEIC
900
Cambridge C2
Proficiency
At Proficiency level (C2), you can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read.
You can summarise information from different spoken and written sources. You can express yourself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely and mistakes in English are
rare. For a student on an intensive course, it typically takes 10-12 weeks to complete a
whole level.
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Typical lessons at St Giles
Each class and every lesson is different, but there are some techniques we
use at St Giles which are typical of any lesson. For example, in class your teacher will often ask you to work with another student. We call
this pair work. This gives students the maximum opportunity to use their English in class. In the online classroom, we will use Breakout rooms. These Breakout rooms allow two
students or small groups of students to have conversations together, to discuss the lesson topic, work on the activity and build more interactive relationships with other students in their class.
It is important that you have lots of opportunity to talk to other students, and your
teachers will ensure that you are given this opportunity. When you are in Breakout rooms, please try to use them to practise your English, use new language, ask questions and
maximise your time. There will be time for feedback from you to other classmates when each breakout room finishes. Your teacher will also be able to change partners and groups so that you are able to talk to everyone in your class. Your teacher may join you for a
short time in each Breakout room, just like in a physical classroom, and to assist you with language or to answer any questions you may have.
Your lessons will concentrate on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and one of the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. But these areas are not independent of
each other. So, in a reading lesson, you will probably work on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, speaking and listening as well as reading!
We believe the most important thing about learning English is communication, and so a lot of your lesson time will be spent on developing your speaking and listening skills.
Class time is valuable, so make the most of your time at school. Students who
experiment more and contribute more to lessons are nearly always students who make good progress. And don’t worry if you make mistakes. So, remember, YOU are the most important person when it comes to learning the language. Relax,
enjoy the lessons, speak and ask questions as often as you can!
In comparison to English lessons you may have experienced before, online lessons have a
different feel and speed. This is normal and you will quickly get used to the style and method of learning. Lessons are designed to help you learn effectively, but they will also be fun. By interacting as much as possible with your classmates and teacher, by asking
questions, and using the Breakout rooms, you will quickly learn the most effective way to get the best out of your lessons.
Your teachers will also give you homework most days. Sometimes this will be language and grammar activities on the St Giles e-learning zone. Other times it may be a writing or
reading activity. You may also be asked to research a topic in preparation for the next day’s lesson. This will save time in the actual lesson but also give you the information and
knowledge you will need to be able to get maximum benefit from your lessons. Sometimes you may be asked to study a grammar point or set of vocabulary – again, this will mean that you are better prepared for your next lesson.
You will be given access to digitalised resources and materials to help you follow each
lesson presentation.
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Expectations of our students
In order for all students and staff to enjoy the online environment, we have prepared these
rules so that you know what we expect from all participating in St Giles Live.
Please try to be on time for all of your lessons, even after breaks.
Please attend every lesson. If you are ill or know that you cannot attend your
lessons the next day, please tell your teacher or email the Registrar at
Your teacher will give you homework most days and it is important that you do it in
order to improve your English.
Please do not speak in your own language during class. Try and speak English
all the time.
Please do not interrupt or talk at the same time as your classmates. Let them
finish what they are saying before you speak.
You must treat other students and staff with respect and tolerance. We
believe in equality for all and will need to speak to anyone who discriminates on the
basis of sex, gender, age or sexuality.
Dress appropriately, as you would for a traditional classroom – so no pyjamas or
bare chests
Have your lesson in an appropriate environment or space, such as at a desk or
table, and not from bed
Make sure that everything visible in your camera is appropriate and will not cause
embarrassment or offence to other learners
Report any inappropriate comments or behaviour to the Director Jessie Goldup at
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If you feel you are being treated differently based on any of the above, or for any reason,
please email [email protected] . We will deal with all issues of bullying,
discrimination or harassment seriously, with protection for all parties involved.
In keeping with the UK Government’s Prevent strategy the school will take action
against students expressing extreme or offensive opinions.
The Student Disciplinary Code…
…says what St Giles would see as poor behaviour and says what St Giles can do as a response.
The full Student Disciplinary Code is available to view on the St Giles International website
Attendance
To make good progress in your English you should attend all your lessons. Please respect your classmates and your
teachers by coming to class on time and attending all your lessons. If you know you will be absent, you must tell the
Registrar by email.
Your teacher keeps a record of student attendance for every lesson, every day. If you do not attend your online lessons, your teacher will mark you as “ABSENT”.
If you miss lessons for two days in a row, your teacher will inform the Director of Studies, who will want to speak to you about your attendance. For those studying away from their
home country, we must ensure you are meeting the attendance requirements of your visa. If you do not, your course may be cancelled and no refund will be given.
If you are sick, you should let us know. Please email: [email protected].
Remember, your attendance is always written on the End of Course Report as well as all
other Reports issued. In addition, as mentioned previously, your attendance must be at least 80% if you want to do a Leaving Test.
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Who can help?
Director of Studies (DoS):
Josh Round
Josh is responsible for
organising the lessons, timetable and learning. Josh can also give you help and
information on tests and examinations. Please contact
Josh if you have any questions or problems with your course:
Assistant Director of
Studies (ADoS) Abby Freeman
Abby can help you with questions or problems with
your studies, Progress Tests and Leaving Tests. If you
need an academic report, Abby can also help you with this. You can contact Abby
Director:
Jessie Goldup
Jessie is the Director of St Giles Live. She is also the
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). You can contact
Jessie at: [email protected]
DSL:
Tom Borrie
Tom is also a Designated Safeguarding Lead. You can
contact Tom at: [email protected]
Senior Registrar: Dorian Grey
Dorian can help you if you want to book or change your course, or if you have
questions about your course in general. You can contact
Dorian at: [email protected]
Resources Director: Glen Blackadder
Glen is responsible for making sure that teachers
have all the resources they need to present their lessons online. You can contact Glen
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New York Support:
Marc Burgess
Marc can assist you with any questions or issues you may
have related to your classes during Eastern Daylight Time
(EDT) zone lessons. You can contact Marc at: [email protected]
Social Programme Organiser
Luke Murphy
Luke is responsible for organising the St Giles Live Social Programme. If you
have any questions about the Social Programme or
have ideas for activities, please contact Luke at: [email protected]
Vancouver Support:
Laura Haseley
Laura can assist you with
any questions or issues you may have related to your
classes during Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) zone lessons. You can contact
Laura at: [email protected]
Social Programme Organiser
Javier Arellano
Javier is responsible for organising the St Giles Live
Social Programme. If you have any questions about
the Social Programme or have ideas for activities, please contact Javier at:
Platinum Course
Director: Jon Grubb
Jon is responsible for organising the Platinum
Centre. The Platinum Centre
does specialised and customised courses. You
can contact Jon at: [email protected]
Social Programme
Organiser Nina Mikso
Nina is responsible for organising the St Giles Live
Social Programme. If you have any questions about the Social Programme or
have ideas for activities, please contact Nina at:
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If you have a problem...
[email protected] – for course enquiries, enrolments and extension requests [email protected] – for questions about your classes and academic or welfare
support. We also have a daily ‘Meet the Academic Team’ Zoom meeting available for students to speak to a member of our academic team about their class, their level, teacher
or their learning aspirations.
[email protected] – for information and suggestions about our social programme
Are You Unhappy About Anything? Want to Make a Complaint?
Your learning and your happiness are our priority. If you haven’t received the appropriate
support and response from our team, please contact the Director, Jessie Goldup, at [email protected]
St Giles is a member of English UK, which has a strict code of practice. If you think the school has not dealt properly with a complaint that you have made, you can make a formal complaint to English UK. You can contact English UK at 219 St John Street, London, EC1V 4LY. You can email: [email protected] or call: 020 7608 7960
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The Social Programme
The Social Programme at St Giles is an important part of your course experience. If you
take part in the programme you have more opportunities to make friends, have fun and practise your English.
The Social Programme Organiser produces activities every week at times to suit you:
REMEMBER If you have any extra ideas for good activities for the Social Programme,
please talk to let us know at [email protected]
EDT PDT
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Students under the age of 18
St Giles takes its care of students under 18 very seriously. We call this care “Safeguarding”. It is the policy of St Giles International to safeguard the welfare of all
children and young people both during their visits to our centres or during remote learning by protecting them from all forms of abuse including physical, emotional and sexual harm.
This organisation is committed to creating a safe environment in which young people can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of the St Giles’ programmes. Staff should at all times show respect and understanding for the individual’s rights, safety and
welfare, and conduct themselves appropriately.
If you are under 18, you are legally a child, even though you have enrolled on an adult course.
If you are under 18 and miss a lesson, we will contact you immediately to make sure that you are safe.
If you miss more than one day’s lessons in a week or are regularly late or absent, we will contact your parents or carer.
If an under 18 student has a one-to-one lesson, then we will ensure that the
materials used are appropriate for the age of the learner. We would also ask the individual student to:
Work from a room with an open door and have a responsible adult present in the home
Try to use speakers and not a personal headset
The Director is also the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead for safeguarding and child protection and has a responsibility to investigate any allegations of child abuse relating to students under the age of 18. The names, roles and contact email address of the
responsible individuals that can be contacted for advice are shown in the table below:
Name Role
Contact
Jessie Goldup Safeguarding Lead [email protected]
Tom Borrie Safeguarding Lead [email protected]
Abby Freeman Safeguarding and Welfare Support [email protected]
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The St Giles E-Learning Zone
Introduction
The St Giles E-Learning Zone (ELZ) is an online learning resource that will help you to benefit more from your course. You can access extra learning resources, complete
homework given by your teacher and use for self-study. You will be sent an email with your login details before your course begins. Your Student
Profile page will look like this, with the opportunity to change your password.
Finding and accessing the online learning material
There is a wide range of resources that you can access by clicking on the Library tab at the top of the page. Many popular course books are available which will allow you to find
additional study activities to complete and give extra practise for the grammar and language focus you have studied during your lessons. The graphic on the next page shows
you an example of locating a course book:
by level by unit by activity
This will help you to find exactly what you are looking for.
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You can also search for any other material that you think might be useful by clicking on the Study → Open access menu at the top of the page, taking you to the screens below:
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Library Resource
By clicking on the Library tab, you will be able to choose other interesting resources, such as idioms, jokes, English TV and Radio channels, podcasts, Youtubers and Teachers’ tips:
1-to-1 Feedback with your Teacher
During your course, you will have the opportunity to give and receive feedback with your teacher. These meetings are every two weeks. In preparation for the meeting you will be
asked to complete a form. The first three sections let you think about your current ability across a variety of skills and areas. You can select those areas you feel confident in, and those where you need to improve.
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Social Tab
There is also a social area where you have several options, including private chat with other students, group chat with your whole class, a noticeboard where your teacher or
other students can post notices, and a calendar of important dates for your class:
The E-Learning Zone is a very useful resource for you and we encourage you to use it as much as possible. You will have one year’s access from the first time you log on to the site. Your teacher or the St Giles Live admin team will be able to help you with specific
questions until you become familiar using it.