Learn General English in Galway, Ireland

What is General English?

General English Courses are our most popular programmes for learners who want to improve their practical English for everyday communication.

General English courses will suit you, whatever your personal learning goals are. If you want to improve your English for study, work or pleasure, this course will help you. The General English programme follows a structured syllabus at all CEFR levels e.g. A2, B1. Your lessons will focus on skill building and language development and the General English programme includes weekly assessment which allows you to track your progress and get valuable feedback. All students have access to a Student Portal and to our learning platform, Moodle where you can find your learner handbook and additional learning resources to support your study. Learning General English in Ireland will mean you have time to enjoy the social and cultural activity programme here at the Galway Cultural Institute (GCI) and to explore our lovely city of Galway. 

What General English courses are available?

Whether you want General English courses in Ireland for a short period of time or for a year stay, whether you want to study in the afternoon, the morning, or for full days, we have lots of options for what you need. The choice is yours - we want to help you get the English skills you need in the best way for you.

Here are some of the different options from our range of English courses that you can choose from, either morning or afternoon alone.

General English Morning 

General English Afternoon

English for 30+

Study English Abroad

You have two General English Morning courses to choose from: 20 or 26 lessons per week. Our shortest course is 2 weeks and there is no maximum number of weeks as you will progress through the levels the longer you study!

Our General English Afternoon courses are 20 lessons and the ideal way to maximise all of your time in Galway and improve your English fluency quickly. These classes start in the afternoon giving you extra time to enjoy your mornings in Galway - to explore the city, meet up with friends or have a relaxing time visiting some of the sights in the surrounding region.

The Study Abroad Year is specifically designed for non-EEA students.  These are long stay General English programmes and the course seeks to develop your skills and fluency in English while enjoying a unique experience of living and studying in Galway. There are specific requirements as conditions of these courses including attendance and taking an international exam. We offer high levels of student support for every aspect of your Study Abroad Year with us and we will have specific meetings to explain everything you need to know about your academic programme, possible future higher education pathways, your statutory requirements and life in Ireland.

Read our blog to find out how you can Improve your English by taking an English Course.

Why should I take General English course?

Your General English course offers you the ultimate in flexibility because you can start your learning journey in Galway on any Monday of the year. During your course you will:

• Build your English vocabulary and grammar
• Improve your reading, writing, listening & speaking skills 
• Achieve your language goals for future employment / higher education pathways 
• Engage with contemporary and engaging class materials
• Have free access to extra study materials, facilities & supports
• Access to our online guides to help you get the most from your stay
• Expand your Galway network & participate in our school social activity programme 
• Explore the beautiful city of Galway & the Wild Atlantic Way
• Receive an end of course certificate 

What level of English is required to take a General English course?

If you want to learn General English we offer all levels from A1 Elementary to C2 Advanced on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). There are two General English course options - 20 lessons or 26 lessons. 

You can start your course any Monday throughout the year. We have lots of new international learners starting their programmes every week.

What can I expect during a General English lesson at the Galway Cultural Institute? 

Our General English courses are designed to develop all areas of your English language skills. GCI’s comprehensive General English programmes can help you achieve real fluency and prepare you for further study or a successful career.

• You’ll develop your English language skills in a dynamic student-centred learning environment

• You’ll focus on the practical aspects of language and facilitate your everyday communication during your English experience
• You’ll learn through task-based activities specially designed by our professional, enthusiastic teachers: the emphasis is on communicating effectively and developing your confidence in using English in real-life situations  

Our lessons are geared towards improving your abilities, on your General English programme you will :

• Increase your confidence in using English every day
• Improve your Spoken fluency & English pronunciation
• Develop your skills in Reading and Listening 
• Review English grammar & expand your vocabulary 
• Develop your Writing skills for everyday communication and work
• Stay focused with weekly assessment & feedback on your language progress
• Develop your global knowledge & understanding with your international classmates
• Learn more about Irish culture

Our 26-lesson General English course (G26) is the best option for those who want to make maximum progress. It offers a powerful combination or morning and afternoon lessons – 20 morning lessons with 6 afternoon lessons. If you choose this programme, you’ll have afternoon classes focusing on key themes or social topics so that you can gain confidence and put the English you are learning into practice in your daily life in Galway.

The afternoon classes encourage lots of student interaction with a combination of individual, pair and group work. There is also an emphasis on debates, presentations, discussions, and use of authentic texts.

With both the 20 and 26 lesson General English course options you will:

• Engage in practical language activities for your level 
• Improve your skills and progress towards fluency
• Study English with other international learners at your level
• Follow a structured syllabus with modern materials
• Complete daily homework or home study tasks
• Be assessed weekly by your class teacher
• Receive weekly progress feedback from your teacher

What extra support will I receive? 

Here at GCI, we have 30 years’ experience helping students to achieve high levels of English. Some students will achieve this progress through General English pathway while others may decide to select a specific Exam Preparation course. Read more here if you want to know more about English courses and exams

Our spacious, bright and modern building has the very best study facilities, with our extensive library and study spaces. You will be able to access extra study resources and get study advice from a teacher who works in the library every afternoon.

We can help you in other ways, too, with lots of online advice about spoken English mistakes, habits to help you learn faster, and English idioms every English student should know.

What exactly will I study on a General English course in Ireland? 

Here at GCI, we use only the most modern and up-to-date materials and our course book choice reflects this. Your course is structured around an excellent 12-week syllabus, linked to the Common European Framework (CEFR) 'Can Do Statements'.

• When you arrive, you will be given a course book for your CEFR English level. You will use your book every day in your English lessons and for some of your home study tasks.
• You will have two different teachers who will help you to develop your English skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening, in addition to your language skills: grammar, vocabulary and communication. You will have lots of opportunities for practice in your groups and will meet new people from all over the world!
• Of course, our experienced teachers make changes depending on what their learners need, and they will introduce you to additional practice materials as appropriate. 
• Homework is part of your learning and your teachers will give this every day. You can also use our Moodle resources to review your learning outcomes and do English quizzes. There are library resources if you wish to do extra study and our Honesty Library is ideal if you would like to read a short story at home - we have different books for all levels. 
• You will have assessment every Friday to monitor your progress and you will get feedback from your teacher to discuss your progress.

Why should I choose English courses in Ireland? Why should I come to Galway to learn English in Ireland?

English courses in Ireland can help you achieve real fluency while experiencing life in Galway city. You’ll love it here – Galway is the most vibrant and lively city in Ireland with endless things to do – this is why Galway was the European Capital of Culture 2020. It’s a fantastic, friendly city with so much to do – look at our Galway Guides to see for yourself!

Here at the Galway Cultural Institute (GCI) our English language courses are for international students, and we have over 30 years of experience in making sure you have a great time and learn well.

You will be in multinational classes with other motivated learners from all over the world who are at the same level as you. These diverse classes are the perfect environment to boost your English level and prepare you for real-world English communication. General English lessons cover a wide range of topics with contemporary and global content.

Imagine being able to communicate freely and confidently in English!  We can help you - and we can’t wait to meet you!