General English

General English

Our General English course is designed to give you a solid foundation in English and develop your ability to communicate.

It is suitable for students of all levels from Elementary (A1) to Advanced (C1), but please note it is not suitable for complete beginners.
Our syllabus is specially designed so you can start any week. Lessons cover speaking, listening, reading and writing skills, plus grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and study skills, with topics changing weekly.
We do not follow a coursebook but instead use a wide range of teaching resources, and we provide you with all lesson materials.

General English

15 hours per week

General English PLUS(1)

22.5 hours per week

Hours per week: 7.5; 15 or 22.5

Course length: 1-52 weeks

Start any Monday(3)

All levels from Elementary (A1) to Advanced (C1)
Not suitable for total beginners.

Ages: 16+

Max. students per class: 12(2)

Course Objectives
To develop your confidence in communicating in English
To improve your skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing
To build your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation
To develop your study skills
(1) See “Afternoon Classes” tab
(2) Average class size is 7–8. The maximum is generally 12, but in special cases this may increase to 13.
(3) The school is closed for Christmas from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (reopening on 4 January), and UK public holidays in 2026 are: 3 April, 6 April, 4 May, 25 May and 31 August.

Afternoon Classes are included as part of the General English Plus course. You can choose between General English, which is available every week, and specialist modules, which are available on certain dates. For course details, see the Afternoon Classes

Topic 2026 Dates Topics may include
News & Media 5-9 January
27 April – 1 May
17-21 August
7-11 December
• News genres
• Social media news
• Analysing and writing headlines
• Memes
Travel English 12-16 January
5-8 May
24-28 August
• At the airport
• Getting around town
• Shopping for essentials
• Eating out
Everyday Problems & Solutions 19-23 January
11-15 May
1-4 September
• At the pharmacy
• At the doctor’s/dentist’s
• Emergencies
• Money matters
Online Communication 27-31 January
22-25 April
14-18 July
6-10 October
• Understanding and replying to emails
• Levels of formality in email writing
• Email structure (subject, greeting, sign-off)
• Social media vocabulary
Pronunciation & Listening 26-30 January
18-22 May
7-11 September
• The sounds of English
• Word stress and sentence stress
• Connected speech and intonation
• Listening tasks
Culture & Social English 2-6 February
26-29 May
14-18 September
• Small talk and socialising
• Apologising
• Requests and offers
• Cultural experiences
Jobs & Working Life 9-13 February
1-5 June
21-25 September
• Describing jobs and workplaces
• Salaries and conditions
• Employment vocabulary
• Workplace communication
Speaking: Fluency & Vocabulary 16-20 February
8-12 June
28 September – 2 October
• Fluency warm-ups
• Expanding vocabulary
• Storytelling skills
• Debating and expressing opinions
Informal Language 23-27 February
15-19 June
5-9 October
• Informal conversations
• Everyday slang
• Phrasal verbs
• Idioms
Daily Living 2-6 March
22-26 June
12-16 October
• Booking an appointment
• Renting a flat
• Using transport
• Requesting a refund
The Future & Innovation 9-13 March
29 June – 3 July
19-23 October
• Future technology
• Space exploration
• Medicine of the future
• The future of education
UK Culture & History 16-20 March
6-10 July
26-30 October
• British landmarks
• Traditions and festivals
• UK expressions
• British history highlights
Communication Skills 23-27 March
13-17 July
2-6 November
• Phone communication
• Online communication
• Everyday services
• Shopping English
Exploring the City 30 March – 2 April
20-24 July
9-13 November
• Asking for directions
• Buying tickets and travel passes
• At a hotel
• Sightseeing and tourist attractions
Art, Culture & Education 7-10 April
27-31 July
16-20 November
• Visual arts and architecture
• Literature and storytelling
• Performing arts
• Education systems
Communication for Work & Study 13-17 April
3-7 August
23-27 November
• Meetings and presentations
• Negotiating
• CVs and interviews
• Formal vs informal language
Pop Culture & Entertainment 20-24 April
10-14 August
30 November – 4 December
• Film & TV
• Music and artists
• Sports
• Fame & celebrities
Celebrations & Festivals 14-18 December • Christmas
• Winter traditions
• Festivals around the world

Please note that course content will vary depending on the level of your class. See our website for more details about our courses.

TIME LESSON
09.30 – 11.00 1st Lesson
11.00 – 11.30 Break
11.30 – 13.00 2nd Lesson
13.00 – 14.00 Lunch
14.00 – 15.30 3rd Lesson (Academic Year Plus only)
Your schedule

Teaching days are Monday to Friday.
Your timetable will be one of the following:
9.30 – 13.00 for General English (15 hrs/week)
9.30 – 15.30 for General English Plus (22.5 hrs/week)
14.00 – 15.30 for Afternoon Classes only (7.5 hrs/week)

The school is closed on the following days in 2026: 3 April, 6 April, 4 May, 25 May, 31 August. For New Year, the school closes on 19 December 2026 and reopens on 4 January 2027.

Your First Day

On your first day, we will give you a written and oral placement test. We will also provide you with a Welcome Pack, explain important information about the school, and take you on a tour of the building.

About Your Lessons

Want to know more about your learning programme at the Lewis School? Here is our quick guide to everything from homework to changing classes.

Learning with Lewis School

Our approach to teaching and learning is at the heart of our success as a school, and your success as a language learner. We’d like to tell you about what makes us different and special.

Save up to 20% on Course Fees! To celebrate 50 years of Lewis, we’ve reduced our prices for 2026!
(Selected courses only. The prices below include this discount).

All prices in GBP (£) per week.

2026 AFTERNOON CLASSES GENERAL ENGLISH GENERAL ENGLISH PLUS
Duration / hours 7.5 hours 15 hours 22.5 hours
1–7 Weeks £80 £160 £240
8–13 Weeks £75 £150 £225
14–20 Weeks £70 £140 £210
21+ Weeks £65 £130 £195
Start any week; finish any week.
Prices in GBP (£) per week.
All levels from Elementary (A1) to Advanced (C1).
All fees in GBP. For payment methods and our refund policy, see www.lewis-school.co.uk/adult-fees

A non-refundable enrolment fee of £65 applies to all new students.

Fees include:
Welcome pack, folder and all learning materials
Study Clubs (free 1-hour sessions such as Conversation Club)
Online and in-school self-study facilities
Certificate and report at end of course (certificate is subject to you attending at least 80% of lessons)

 

UK HOLIDAYS 

Christmas Closure 2026-27 ⇨ we close on 19 December 2026 and reopen on 4 January 2027
UK Public Holidays 2026 ⇨ 3 April, 6 April, 4 May, 25 May, 31 August