Language Teaching Journal
 
   
  THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT  
 

The English Department started its nationwide operation more than two decades ago. The department is a leader in the field ofTeaching English as a Foreign Language (TFL) and has extended its activities over twentyfive locations in the major cities of Iran. The programs and courses for different groups lead to degrees highly recognized nationally.

 



 

The General English courses are offered for two age groups; young adults (10-13) and adults (14-up). The teaching methodology in both sections are eclectic ones, and intend to develop the four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

LOCATIONS

Adults classes are offered at all the ILI branches.
Young adults classes are offered in Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad , Tabriz, Babol, Kerman, Sari and Uromieh.

REQUIREMENTS

  • YOUNG ADULTS

    They should either be 10 years old or have completed the fourth grade of elementary school

  • ADULTS

    They should at least be 14 years old or have completed the second grade of guidance (middle) school



 

There are different levels in the adults section. These levels are offered in five distinct stages: Basic, Elementary, Pre-Intermediate, Intermediate, High Intermediate and Advanced. The materials give the students ample practice in the four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. The four skills receive increasing attention as the learners move up to the higher levels. Instructors, however, intend to maximize the learners' role and help them become independent learners.
Different levels of communicative competence are achieved smoothly, as the learners develop their linguistic competence. In the advanced levels, students are encouraged to be active in the process of language learning. Instructors, on the other hand, tend to be less involved thus giving the learners all the available opportunities to develop their language skills.
Through all these 18 levels, the various kinds of class activities and homework assignments are meant to ensure maximum exposure of the learners to the target language, i.e. , English. Teaching and checking are done entirely through English, and the learners' mother tongue is never used.

THE BASIC STAGE (2 levels)

The material for these two levels has been designed in a way to give beginners, false beginners to be exact, the opportunity to have ample practice in the target language. Language skills in these two levels, as well as in the higher ones, are taught in the order of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Dialogs and passages are used to promote the skills of listening and speaking. Reading plays a supportive role, and writing, however, is imitative consisting of transcriptions of words, passages, and dialogs. Learners are also given the opportunity to write out variations of exercises, and dictations.

THE ELEMENTARY STAGE (3 levels)

The four skills receive more attention, and learners have dialogs with a higher level of difficulty to work on and practice, longer passages to study, and various kinds of structural patterns to drill. Also, much work is done on the skills of listening and speaking through audio tapes.

THE PRE-INTERMEDIATE AND INTERMEDIATE STAGES (6 levels)

The passages are exclusively used to improve the skill of reading comprehension, and learners are exposed to more formal English in writing. Listening comprehension and speaking are again enhanced through the dialogs and some especially prepared material to be used with audio tapes. Vocabulary development also constitutes a considerable portion of the exercises.

THE HIGH INTERMEDIATE STAGE (3 levels)

These Levels are basically grammar oriented ones, and try to ensure maximum exposure of the learners to English grammar in form and use. Systematic writing is taught and practiced more extensively, and learners are helped to develop the skill of writing different kinds of paragraphs. The skills of listening and speaking, as in lower levels, are promoted through a certain set of audio material.

THE ADVANCED STAGE (4 levels)

In this stage, the skill of reading receives increasing attention, hence, more literary forms of expression are introduced. Learners are encouraged to be more active, and teachers tend to act as prompters, thus minimizing their role in class. This attitude aims at paving the way for the learners' total independence. Also, the learners are helped to boost and expand their range of vocabulary through a variety of exercises and an overall focus on vocabulary development. The skill of writing paragraphs and essays is still pursued at a higher level.

 

COURSE DURATOIN

  • REGULAR CLASSES

    Each term starts at the beginning of each season (quarter) and lasts for eleven weeks. Classes meet twice a week on Saturday-Wednesday, Sunday-Tuesday, or Monday-Thursday. Each session is 105 minutes long.

     

  • INTENSIVE CLASSES

    The classes last for one month and meet everyday except Thursday and Friday.

CERTIFICATION

Upon completing level High Intermediate 3, students can take part in a written and oral exam to be qualified for a Junior Certificate in English (JCE).

Upon completing level Advanced 4, students can take part in a written and oral exam to be qualified for a Senior Proficiency Certificate in English(SCE).



                  

 Brief History: The Young Adults’ Department of the Iran Language   Institute was established in 1992, aiming to teach English to learners between 10 to 14 years of age. It started up at Niavaran Branch in Tehran, and gradually expanded its activity to 11 other branches throughout the country.

 

Target Group: After the establishment of Children’s Department in fall 2004, the Young Adults’ Department now has 9-to-13-year-olds as its target group.

Levels: Altogether, there are 13 levels including:

1.  Start: The base level for zero beginners: An English Primer.

2.  Run 1-4: English Time 1,2.

3.  Race 1-4: English Time 3,4.

4.  Reach 1-4: English Time 5,6.

 

Packages in Use:

1. An English Primer, including student Book, Workbook, Flash Cards, Posters, and Audio Cassettes. This book is used to familiarize zero beginners  with English letters and phonics.

2.  English Time: A six-book series for Elementary through Intermediate learners, including student’s Book, Workbook, Supplementary Exercises, Posters, Class CD, and Audio Cassettes.

 

Course Description: English Time is intended for students learning the language in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context outside the classroom. With pages specially dedicated to the instruction of language functions, vocabulary, structure, and pronunciation, the series aims to develop the students’ speaking, listening, reading and writing skills through various fun activities. 

 

Terms: There are four terms in a  year, each consisting of 21 90-minute sessions, 2 sessions per week.

 

Transfer to Adults’ Department: Students who successfully complete level Reach 4 can continue their English education in the adults’ department from level Pre-Intermediate 1. 

 

Children’s Department in Brief

Iran Language Institute

Age Group: The children’s department programs are allocated to children from seven to nine years of age who intend to study English as their foreign language.

 Levels:   Learners at this department are children who are either  acquainted with English to some extent or are true beginners; second group , however, are placed in  Primer 1. The whole course consists of four level groups as follows:   

               Primer 1,2

                   Step Up 1-4

                   Move Up 1-4 

                   Jump Up 1-4

Educational Pack: In Primer levels, the  learner gets acquainted with the letter formation and sounds of the English alphabet through a variety of words. Several numbers, colors, classroom commands and mini dialogs are also introduced and then reinforced through a variety of songs, games, and films.

The pack called " An English Primer" includes a Student Book and a Workbook with the accompanying audio cassettes. A box of Picture Cards is also available.

In Step, Move, and Jump levels the learner not only gets acquainted with a variety of words and grammatical structures ,but also gains the ability to use them in simple dialogs, free responses, and directed discourse

The pack  called " Up and Away in English" includes a Student Book with the accompanying audio cassettes, a Workbook and a Reader. An Activity Book or Supplement with the accompanying audio cassettes, songs , games and films are added to the pack in order to reinforce the learned material.

        Time: Each term consists of 21 sessions and each session is 90 minutes.The first session is allocated to the parents who attend their children’s classes instead in order to be informed about the ILI rules and regulations and to know how to keep up with their children’s class activities and progress.

Days: Classes are held two days a week on Saturdays and Wednesdays/ Sundays and Tuesdays / Mondays and Thursdays.

Assessment :The students’ four skills, i.e., listening, speaking, reading, and writing together with their behavior is assessed constantly throughout each term. Students are not supposed to repeat the levels unless  teachers find that out and convince the parents that there is a need for that.

 Branches: The course is currently presented at Hejab branch  at the following address:  # 1/63, Babataher st., Fatemi Ave.,Tehran   Tel: 8009041