General English

General English Program

Our General English Program at POLY Languages Institute is designed to help students build real-world English communication skills for academic, professional, and everyday life. Courses are offered at six CEFR-aligned levels, from beginner to advanced, with a consistent and structured curriculum that emphasizes fluency, accuracy, and confidence.

Course Structure

The General English Program consists of six levels (Levels 1–6), with each level divided into two 4-week terms: A Term (first half) and B Term (second half). Each level takes approximately 8 weeks to complete. The academic year includes six A-terms (offered in odd-numbered months) and six B-terms (offered in even-numbered months).

Courses Offered per Level

At each level, students may enroll in the following course components:

Required Courses

• Listening & Speaking (GE LS): Focuses on oral fluency, pronunciation, listening comprehension, and confidence in spoken communication.
  Textbook Series: NorthStar LS
• Reading & Writing (GE RW): Emphasizes vocabulary development, reading strategies, and academic-style writing appropriate for general and professional use.
  Textbook Series: NorthStar RW

Optional Course

• Integrated Skills (GE IN): A fluency-based class that integrates listening, speaking, reading, and grammar using communicative activities and real-life topics.
  Textbook Series: Top Notch (Levels 1–4) and Summit (Levels 5–6)
  This course is optional and may be taken alone or in addition to GE LS and GE RW.

Placement

New students are placed into appropriate levels using the English Proficiency Assessment Test (EPAT). Placement is determined using CEFR-aligned scoring criteria and test results. Students must enroll in the same level for all required components (LS and RW) to maintain alignment and curricular consistency.

Progress & Outcomes

Students advance by successfully completing course requirements and demonstrating mastery of each level’s learning outcomes. To understand how POLY levels correspond with internationally recognized proficiency scales such as CEFR, TOEFL, TOEIC, and IELTS, visit our Achievement Scale.