General English
General English
The General English course is our most popular course and is designed to meet a broad range of language learning needs. You will study the systems of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and discourse, and the skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. In the afternoons you can choose to focus on the language skills you need to improve most. The General English course is taught over six levels: beginner, elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced.
Many students take General English at lower levels and move on to higher level courses – such as IELTS exam preparation or English for Academic Purposes – when they are ready.
Standard Course
On our Standard course you will study 20 lessons a week from 9.00 to 13.00. The course will teach you the systems of English vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation together with the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
| Quick Guide | |
| Timetable | 9.00 to 13.00 |
| Maximum Class Size | 14 |
| Lessons per Week | 20 |
| Lesson Duration | 50 Minutes |
| Coursebook | Included |
| Levels | Elementary to Advanced |
| Start Date | Every Monday |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
Semi Intensive and Intensive Courses
After studying General English in the morning, you will be able to choose from a range of electives to take for two afternoons a week, to allow you to focus on the English skills that you most want to improve. These courses are for students who want to improve their English more quickly.
| Quick Guide | |
| Timetable | 9.00 to 16.00 |
| Maximum Class Size | 14 |
| Lessons per week | 25 or 30 |
| Lesson Duration | 50 Minutes |
| Coursebook | Included |
| Levels | Elementary to Advanced |
| Start Date | Every Monday |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
ELC uses an approach called Communicative Language Teaching which means that our students learn through real-life communication and interaction in English.
A focus on listening and pronunciation skills are a key part of our teaching approach. We use authentic listening material to make sure you have exposure to English as it’s really spoken, not just out of a textbook.
As a University Language Centre, we specialise in teaching English for University study. This means a focus on writing clear, accurate and well structured text, and learning strategies to help deal with complex reading texts.
Standard Course (GE20)
Our Standard General English course (GE20) is 20 lessons a week, from 9.00 to 13.00, Monday to Friday. The morning consists of a coursebook-led communicative language teaching lesson, which will focus on all the skills and systems of English Language. The last hour of the day is a conversation class, encouraging students to communicate in a relaxed setting using a task-based teaching approach.
The Standard course is a popular and cost effective choice, and allows students time in the afternoon to get to know our beautiful city of Cape Town.
Semi-Intensive (GE25)
The semi-intensive course offers a balance between having time to enjoy your stay in Cape Town and making quick progress with your English. The course combines GE20 every day in the morning with afternoon electives twice a week. In the afternoon you can choose between Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing for lower levels. At Upper Intermediate level or above you can choose between Business English and English for Academic Purposes.
Intensive (GE30)
The intensive course is 30 lessons a week from 9.00 to 16.00, Monday to Thursday and 9.00 to 13.00 on Friday. This is our most demanding course and is most suitable to students who are very focused on their learning, and motivated to meet their language goals as quickly as possible.
This course combines standard GE20 in the morning with elective classes focusing on specific skills or specializations. Depending on your level, you can choose between Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing, Business English, or English for Academic Purposes. Many of our academically-focused students students combine an Intensive IELTS preparation course in the morning with English for Academic Purposes in the afternoon.
Test your
English Level
Test your
English Level
Course Costs per Week All GE and IELTS Preparation courses
| Lessons per week | 20 Lessons | 25 Lessons | 30 Lessons |
| 1-3 Weeks | R 3 820 | R 4 370 | R 4 990 |
| 4-7 Weeks | R 3 620 | R 4 150 | R 4 740 |
| 8-11 Weeks | R 3 440 | R 3 930 | R 4 490 |
| 12-23 Weeks | R 3 070 | R 3 490 | R 4 000 |
| 24+ Weeks | R 2 780 | R 3 170 | R 3 630 |
Christian, DRC
My aim was successful achieved with qualified and lovely teachers. UCT ELC was better but it can make more than better to become the best not only in Africa but…
Fernanda, Mozambique
I’m very happy. I improved my grammar and pronunciation. The school is family – we had social groups. I would like to come back do my PhD or any other…
Francesca, Italy
I chose to attend my English course at the ELC of the UCT, where I found a very international atmosphere and I met many of my closest friends. …I found a…
Zaki, Saudi Arabia
I hope [to go] back to cape Town to be in ELC again and again and again. It’s my home in South Africa.
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