Easy Languages

Program

Destination

The Whitsundays is centrally located on the tropical Queensland coast midway between Cairns and Brisbane. Location adjacent the Great Barrier Reef and the departure point for the many tropical Island resorts and national parks, the Whitsundays is a great opportunity to learn English while holidaying and diving or sailing in a tropical paradise.

The options for exploring the Whitsundays Islands and Great Barrier Reef are unlimited. Dive or snorkel on the reef or enjoy the beautiful white sands of Whitehaven Beach. Go whale watching and visit one of the 74 islands that make up the Whitsundays group. Featuring warm days all year round and a relaxed and friendly cosmopolitan atmosphere, the Whitsundays is known as the Saling Mecca of Australia.

Over 70% of the Whitsundays region consists of protected marine and national parks. Conway National Park State rainforest areas offer a range of walking treks through tropical rainforests and with views of the sea and Whitsundays Islands.

Airlie Beach is nestled amid rainforest ridges, tropical island horizons and bordered by coastal bays, yachts and marinas attracts visitors from around the world. Airlie Beach lagoon, situated on the landscaped Pacific Ocean foreshore, offers swimmers safe all year round and free access to clear, clean waters.

School

The campus is located in a new modern building just a 5 minute walk from public transport, shops and the beach. The college building features a café, a student common room with computers and internet access, a video room and bright modern class rooms.

Our partner was among the first English Language Colleges to be accredited in Australia and the first independent Language College to be established in the Whitsundays.

All teaching staff meet the requirements of the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). All teachers have specialist English language teaching qualifications. They are enthusiastic, motivated and caring professionals.

Students can enjoy excellent facilities; they have access to their own kitchen as well as a common room. The school also provides students with access to computers and free internet.

The Job Advisory Service is very popular with our students on Working Holiday and Student Visas. A weekly update of jobs available in Airlie Beach & Whitsundays is posted on the student noticeboard each week.

Courses

On the first day of each course, students complete a full placement test before being placed in the appropriate level. All levels are accepted. Students’ progress is monitored every four weeks. At the end of the course, students are awarded a certificate indicating their level of achievement.

Minimum stay is 4 weeks. The average class size is 12 students (maximum 15).

General courses

• General English: 20 lessons per week
  They are designed to improve students’ English language communication skills to prepare for future study, work, travel or career changes. Core classes concentrate on developing grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading, writing and pronunciation skills in real-life situations. We offer 20 or 25 lessons of English.
• Intensive English: 25 lessons per week
  Afternoon classes (25 lesson programme) allow students to specialise and choose one or two Special Studies from a wide range of Special Studies options. These include: examination preparation (IELTS, TOEIC), academic study skills, Business English, English for Hospitality, conversation and pronunciation, advanced writing / grammar.
• IELTS Preparation Course - 25 lessons per week
  The IELTS Preparation programme is an intensive 12 week course designed to prepare students for the 4 main areas of the IELTS exam (speaking, listening, reading & writing). The International English Testing System, (IELTS) assesses the level of English of non-native English speakers who require English for academic or professional purposes.
• Cambridge Preparation Course - 25 lessons per week
  Our school is an experienced Cambridge Preparation Centre. Students have achieved good results in these examinations. Individual counselling, weekly progress reviews and additional self access assist students achieve as much progress as possible. FCE and CAE courses are held three times per year - January, March & September - and last 12 weeks.
  
  

Courses with Activities

• English and Sailing
  Airlie Beach, Whitsundays is a sailing paradise. It is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef and includes 74 tropical islands. Its sheltered clear blue waters and pristine beauty have made the Whitsundays renowned as one of the world’s greatest aquatic playgrounds. This 4 week programme combines a sailing course with intensive English language instruction. There are 25 hours of intensive English per week plus 5 day sailing. The English lessons run from 9:00am to 3:15pm and sailing sessions in the afternoon. Entry level: upper intermediate.
  
  
• English and Diving
  The programme provides students with the opportunity to have diving sessions whilst also improving their English language proficiency. It is a 4 week full-time course. Students complete a 25 hour per week course plus a 3 day open water dive course. You will be awarded with an international open dive course certificate on successful completion. Entry level: upper intermediate.
  
  

Activities

A variety of exciting activities are offered through our programme in the Whitsundays.

The Whitsundays offers one of the largest choices of marine tourism experiences - learn to scuba dive, sail on the pristine Great Barrier Reef marine park, relax on a tropical island resort or explore the many uninhabited island national parks.

The Whitsundays plays host to a number of events each year, many of which are sailing and other water based sports: triathlon, boat and leisure show, Hamilton Island race, etc.

The activities include weekend camping trips, student barbeques and many sporting, cultural and entertainment events.

Accommodation

Accommodation is an important part of the students’ language experience. We take great care in selecting accommodation – homestay or residence.

Homestay
Homestay is our most popular accommodation option. Families are carefully selected, and students carefully matched with host families. In selecting homestay families, we believe it is important to choose families who appreciate hosting international students. Australian homestay is usually a very successful and happy experience for the student.

Homestay accommodation includes 3 meals per day and all bed linen and towels. Shared rooms are available for students traveling together only.

Student Residence
The Student Residence is a large, fully self-contained house located within walking distance to the College, beach, shopping centres and bus stop. The house features spacious bedrooms, share kitchen, share living room, share bathroom and share laundry facilities. It is serviced once per week and all linen, cutlery and crockery are supplied.

Prices & Dates

Dates 2012

Stays from Sunday to Saturday or from Saturday to Friday.

General courses: 3/1, 6/2, 5/3, 2/4, 7/5, 4/6, 2/6, 6/8, 3/9, 1/10, 5/11, 3/12, or any Monday upon request

Public Holidays: 2 & 26/01, 12/03, 6, 9 & 25/04, 11/06, 1/10, 22/12-6/01/13.

Prices include:

• The chosen course
• The accommodation within a host family, full board or in a student house
  
• All the administrative and enrolment fees
• A certificate of attendance
• A placement test
• The materials fee
  
  

They do not include:

• Transportation
• Airport transfer (free if enrolment for 12 weeks and up)
  
• Mandatory health cover for stays over 12 weeks
  
• Exam fee (about 365 AU$)

Practical Info

Transport

• Arrival airport: Brisbane (BNE), domestic flight to Whitsunday Coast Airport, Proserpine (PPP)
• Regular buses and taxis run between the Whitsunday Coast Airport and Airlie Beach.
  
  

If you wish, we can book your flights for you. Please make this clear when you enrol.

If you intend to arrange your own travel to Australia, try to arrive the Sunday before the start of your course and leave the saturday following its end.

VISA Information

For your stay in Australia, you will need a visa. The type of visa you require will depend on the length of your visit and your intentions:

• Tourist visa
  This type of visa (subclass 676) is required by visitors staying 3, 6, or 12 months in Australia. It allows you to visit the country and partake in classes for less than 3 months. During your stay you will not be allowed to work (excluding volunteer work). However you are free to leave the country and return, provided it is within the declared length of stay. The validity of the visa begins when you enter Australian territory. Visa application fees are 105AUD (around 71€)
  
  
• Student visa
  This type of visa (subclass 571) is required by visitors intending to study for a period of more than 3 months. It allows you to stay for up to 10 months in Australia. The validity of the visa begins when you enter Australian territory. Visa application fees are 540AUD (around 305€)

Warning! The visa application process for minors (-18 years) is long and requires a lot of additional forms and documents; please allow plenty of time when you begin your application.

The "Working Holiday Visa" Programme

Since 2004 the Working Holiday Visa allows French and Belgian nationals to go to Australia for up to one year, renewable once, in order to visit the country and work as means of covering costs. (Consult the website - http://www.immi.gov.au - for other nationalities)

Once in place, you will be able to work for the same employer for 6 months consecutively. You will also be able to partake in 17 weeks of classes during your stay. In addition, you will be able to request a different type of visa, such as the Student visa, if you intend to undertake studies in Australia. Please be aware that the reverse is not possible: you cannot transfer from another type of visa to the Working Holiday Visa.

Departures take place all year round. You are welcome, but not obligated, to stay the entire 12 months. In addition this visa is classed as multi-entry, which is to say that you are entitled to leave and return to Australian territory as frequently as you please during the validity of your visa. Australia has no visa quota, either, and so around 100,000 young people visit the country every year! Between June 2009 and May 2010, nearly 17,000 WHV were allocated to young French people.

Eligibility conditions for the Working Holiday Visa

• You must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of application.
• The application must be made outside of Australian territory.
• The main purpose of the application must be tourism.
• You cannot have already taken part in this programme.
• You must have proof of sufficient funds (3000€) to subsist and to be able to return to your home country, or be in possession of a return ticket.
• You cannot be married, nor have children.