English in Sydney

Destination

With over 4.8 million inhabitants, Sydney is Australia’s most populous city. It’s also the financial and economic centre of the whole of Oceania.

Sydney’s dramatic skyline is immediately recognizable thanks to the emblematic Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, in addition to its stunning coastline.

Sydney is a cosmopolitan metropolis with friendly locals, known worldwide for their laid-back attitude and love of sports. It boasts a vibrant culture and arts scene, an excellent climate and international cuisine, not to mention its gorgeous natural surroundings teeming with golden sand beaches and lush parks, with Blue Mountain not far away. It’s no stretch of the imagination to say Sydney is truly an idyllic destination.

Our partner school, International House, is located in a listed building in the heart of Sydney, a short walk from the Queen Victoria Building and the Sydney Tower, with the main shopping and entertainment district and bus stops just next door, and only a 15-minute walk from Harbour Bridge. International House is warm and welcoming, with friendly and helpful staff and teachers renowned for their excellence in teaching. It is also a Cambridge Exam Centre. It boasts the most culturally diverse student population of any Australian language school.

International House is accredited by ASQA, NEAS, University of Cambridge (ESOL), J-Shine.

School facilities include:

20 bright classrooms over 3 floors, with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment
30 computers
Free WiFi access throughout the centre
Study rooms
2 common rooms with kitchenette and microwave

English language courses: the basics

Lesson length: 60 minutes
Class size: General English – average 12 students (maximum 18); maximum 12 students for all other courses
Schedule: morning and/or evening lessons (standard and semi-intensive courses)
Placement test: first day of lessons
Certificate of completion at the end of your stay
Open access to the International House e-learning platform up to 12 weeks after your stay
Regular progress tests (every 4 weeks)
Monthly ‘Finding a job in Sydney’ seminar
CELTA-qualified native English speakers

20 lessons per week

5 lessons per day Monday-Friday or 4 evening lessons per day Monday-Friday will give you a practical understanding of the English language and improve your fluency and confidence in day-to-day communication. International House trains you in all four communication skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Language level: beginner* to advanced

*Please note that students also attend additional lessons until they reach A1 proficiency.

23 general English lessons per week

The ideal course to get your English where you want it to be, fast. Includes 4 General English lessons per day, and also allows you to personalise your course by taking an additional 3 lessons per week across a selection of electives focusing on one of the 4 communication skills: reading, writing, speaking, listening. You will choose 2 electives and alternate from week to week (Week 1 Writing, Week 2 Speaking, Week 3 Writing, etc.) Each elective is adapted to suit your English proficiency, to ensure you make progress at your own pace.

Language level: beginner* to advanced

*Please note that students also attend additional lessons until they reach A1 proficiency.

20 or 25 lessons per week per 4-week course.

Session length: 4 or 10 weeks, with specific start dates (please contact us for more information). As International House is an exam centre, course sessions start almost every 4 weeks. Registration deadline: 8 weeks prior to the start of the course.

Your teachers will guide and monitor you to make sure that you progress at the correct rate to succeed in your exam, giving you the specific vocabulary and grammar and study plan you need. Using sample exam papers you will learn how to effectively answer questions so by the time you take the test, you will know the style of questions to expect and how to answer them. A 10-week course is recommended for ideal preparation.

Language level:

FCE: Upper intermediate
CAE: Advanced

20 lessons per week per 4-week course session.

Session length: 4 to 10 weeks

If you wish to attend university in an English-speaking country or certify your English proficiency, preparing for the IELTS exam is the first step to success. Teachers will meet with you individually to assess your language proficiency and goals. Sample papers will help you learn how to effectively answer questions and learn the techniques you need to sit the exam with confidence.

Language Level : Intermediate or IELTS 4.5 or Intermediate/Pre-advanced or IELTS 5.5 depending on your desired score.

For reference, a 0.5 IELTS score improvement usually requires 8 weeks of study.

As an International House student, you will enjoy a varied calendar of social and leisure activities every week, in the afternoon or during the evening. Attendance is optional. Many of these activities are free of charge, however, some may require a fee. All activities are subject to change without notice and may be offered seasonally.

Some of the many activities available include:

Museum and tourist attraction trips
Pub outings
Movie afternoons
Weekend trips (Canberra, Port Stephens, Blue Mountain, Jervis Bay, Hunter Valley)

Shared room, half-board Monday-Friday and full board at the weekend.

Travel time to International House: 30-40 minutes on public transport Australian families usually live in spacious houses and are very active.

Practical information:

Bed linen provided

Residence accommodation is a great option for students looking meet other students from all over the world.

Residences are located in the suburbs of Sydney (districts mentioned below) and offer a quick connection to the school, located in the city centre. Residence location depends on availablity during your time of stay.

Features:

Shared or single room
Shared bathroom
Self-catering
30 minutes’ travel time to International House on public transport
Located in Artarmon, Rockdale, Kogarah, Lane Cove or Ashfield
AUD 350 deposit to be paid on arrival (to be refunded at the end of your stay provided your room is clean and tidy with no evidence of damage)

Facilities and services

Coin laundry facilities available on-site
Bed linen provided on arrival
Shared kitchen and lounge area
TV
Telephone

Optional extras:

Single room
Central location in the Pyrmont, Ultimo or CBD areas

Arrivals: Saturday or Sunday

Departures: Saturday or Sunday

Arrival airport: Sydney Kingsforth-Smith International

Airport pick-up available on request (fees apply, please see price list)

Please note: do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

Visa Information

You might need a visa for this course. For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

Do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you require any additional information.

Dates & Prices 2020

Dates 2020

Beginning of the sessions : The majority of courses start every Monday, throughout the year, unless otherwise stated below. If Monday is a public holiday, the session starts on Tuesday.

Holidays and vacations (no classes will be given on these dates, nor will they be made up later; no compensation will be given): 01/01, 27/01, 10/04, 13/04, 27/04, 08/06, 03/08, 05/10, 25/12, 28/12, 25/12 – 04/01/2021

Dates for IELTS preparation sessions: every Monday, for a minimum of 4 weeks. Exam dates should be checked on the IELTS website.

Starting dates for the Cambridge 2019 exam preparation sessions: please consult us

Prices 2020

Homestay, lessons and accommodation, single room and half board
Duration	20 hrs	23 hrs
2 weeks	€ 595	€ 635
3 weeks	€ 790	€ 850
4 weeks	€ 950	€ 1.025
6 weeks	€ 1.350	€ 1.465
8 weeks	€ 1.755	€ 1.905
10 weeks	€ 2.160	€ 2.350
12 weeks	€ 2.560	€ 2.790
16 weeks	€ 3.370	€ 3.670
18 weeks	€ 3.775	€ 4.115
20 weeks	€ 4.175	€ 4.555
24 weeks	€ 4.985	€ 5.435
32 weeks	€ 6.595	€ 7.200
36 weeks	€ 7.405	€ 8.085
Additional week	€ 165	€ 215
Homestay supplements	#REF!	#REF!
Options	Price
Minors (-18 years old) (per week)	#REF!	#REF!
Extra night	#REF!	#REF!
Course and accommodation in residence, shared room in town, single room in the suburbs, without meals
Duration	20 hrs	23 hrs
2 weeks	Chambre individuelle, 1/2 pension	Chambre partagée, sans repas
3 weeks	#REF!	#REF!
4 weeks	#REF!	#REF!
6 weeks	€ 1.290	€ 1.065
8 weeks	€ 1.820	€ 1.480
10 weeks	€ 2.350	€ 1.895
12 weeks	€ 2.880	€ 2.315
16 weeks	€ 3.410	€ 2.730
18 weeks	€ 4.470	-
20 weeks	€ 5.000	-
24 weeks	€ 5.530	-
32 weeks	€ 6.585	-
36 weeks	€ 8.705	-
Additional week	€ 9.765	-
Residence accommodation supplements (per week)	#REF!	#REF!
Options	Price
Security deposit (to be paid on site)	#REF!
Transfer (on arrival only)	€ 70
From sydney airport	€ 90
Compulsory insurance for all stays of more than 12 weeks (per month)	#REF!
OSHC (price may vary)	#REF!

Prices include:

Your chosen course
Accommodation (host family: single room, shared bathroom, half board Monday-Friday and full board at the weekend; residence: shared room, self-catering)
Course materials
Unlimited WiFi access
Access to the school e-learning site
Language activities
Monthly jobhunting seminar
All taxes and enrolment fees

Prices do not include: