General English Course

General English 

Whether you need English for your studies, your job, your future travelling plans or simply to make conversation, our General English course is designed to make you more proficient in everyday English situations and activities.

Our General English group classes will provide training solutions designed to develop your English skills for real-life situations. You will be attending lessons with other international students who are studying face to face here in Galway. 

The classes are very interactive and developing communication skills is a priority. The General English programme follows a structured syllabus at all CEFR levels e.g. A2, B1. Your lessons will focus on skill building in all areas such as speaking, writing, listening and reading and language development in terms of vocabulary and grammar. The General English programme includes short weekly assessments which allow you to see how you are progressing and you will receive regular feedback from your teacher to ensure you achieve your learning goals.

You can start any Monday. 

New General English PM courses available!

We now offer the option of studying General English in the afternoon at a cheaper price compared to General English classes in the morning. The PM option is designed to fit around you if you work full-time or have other commitments making it difficult to attend a morning course. 

The General English afternoon courses are no different to the General English morning courses except for the time of the day they run.  We use the same structured syllabus, dynamic teaching techniques and the latest technology to deliver motivating lessons which will meet your individual needs and goals.

  • Minimum Course Length

    1 week

  • Lessons a Week

    20 or 26 lessons
    45 minutes per lesson

  • Minimum English Level

    CEFR levels: A1 Elementary - C2 Advanced

  • Cost

    From €220 / week for PM lessons
    From €290 / week for AM lessons

  • Start Dates

    Any Monday
    (on bank holidays, courses start on Tuesdays)

  • Maximum Class Size

    14

  • Minimum Age

    17 in winter
    16 in summer

  • Lesson times

    Mon - Fri 09.00 - 12.30 / Tue, Wed, Thu until 15.00 (AM classes)
    Mon -Thu 13.30 - 17.00 & Fri 13.30 - 15.00 (PM classes)

We will welcome you to our school at a special induction meeting held on your first day. During induction you will meet the team, meet other new students, receive a welcome pack and have a short interview with a teacher. There is also a presentation with information about the school and Galway. You will receive your course materials and your timetable - then you are ready to start classes! 

All students are asked to complete an online English test before they start their course. This allows us to get an indication of your current CEFR level. We will decide on the best level for you during a short oral interview on your first day. Please note that if you score less than 15 questions correct out of 80 questions (less than 18%) in the online English test, you will need to book one to one classes before you begin your General English classes. In order to be able to start your General English classes any Monday, your level must be minimum Elementary A1.

The programme

General English courses are our most popular programmes. You can start any Monday - which gives you choice and flexibility so you can start an amazing learning journey at the best time for you

General English courses are suitable for all levels of English. We offer General English courses at all CEFR levels from Elementary A1 to Advanced C2 with all two course options.

You can choose from two different options of 20 or 26 lessons a week. Choose from short-term and long-term flexible programmes. 

Start your journey and learn English as a second language while exploring Galway, one of Ireland’s most attractive cities. 


Who is the course for?

Imagine being able to communicate freely and confidently in English!

Our General English courses can help you achieve real fluency and prepare you for further study or a successful career. 

Whether you’re a student applying to university or a professional looking to brush up on your English skills, we’ve got something that’s just right for you.

These courses are the best option for international students who wish to improve their English language skills. Does that describe you?

We want you to get the results you need. Think about what you want to study and, more importantly, what you want to achieve before you start. With your dedication and our expert help, you can progress from one level to the next in as little as six weeks.      

What are the benefits of studying a General English course?

You’ll enjoy many benefits from learning another language and many more from learning English. Learning English is not only for academic achievement - it equips you with a life skill that will help you develop both personally and professionally. 

  • Gain the necessary confidence in English and make friends with people from all over the world
  • General English courses give you choice and flexibility so you can start your learning journey every week of the year
  • Choose from two different course options – 20 or 26 lessons a week, depending on how intensively you want to study. 20-lesson classes are morning only and 26 lesson classes are in the morning and afternoon. 
  • Improve your core communication language skills whether for work, study or pleasure
  • Enjoy a technology-enhanced environment that provides rich and authentic learning materials and lessons

General English course objectives

Our main aim is to ensure you feel confident and prepared to use English in any setting. We want you to enhance your communication skills so you can interact with English speakers effectively outside the classroom in the real world.  

  • 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      

The weekly outcomes are aligned to the CEFR and lesson delivery is supported by core course books, authentic and supplementary material developed by the expert teaching team. We choose all materials and digital resources in line with our learner needs and based on the latest research into the English language.

Our General English courses are designed to develop all areas of your English language skills:

  • Your vocabulary, listening, speaking and confidence will all improve      
  • You’ll improve your reading and writing
  • You’ll explore English language grammar structures 
  • You’ll have time to develop and improve your pronunciation and intonation  – in fact, everything to help you excel and gain fluency     

In the 20-lesson General English course (G20) you can enroll for a short time (2+ weeks) or a longer period (up to 50 weeks). The choice is yours. You’ll be in classes studying with students from all over the world and at your level of English. It’s affordable and designed for those seeking an English language course with suitable class contact time. 

Our 26-lesson General English course (G26) is the best option for those who want to make maximum progress. With your commitment and hard work, as well as our expertise, you can move from one level to the next in as little as 6 weeks.  

The G26 General English Course is our most comprehensive General English programme. 

It has 26 lessons and a combination or morning and afternoon lessons – 20 morning lessons with 6 afternoon lessons. The afternoon classes are over three days. If you choose this programme, you’ll experience afternoon classes :

  • focusing on key themes or situations so you can gain confidence and immediately put learning into practice in your daily life in Galway.
  • centred on student interaction and are a combination of individual, pair and group work. There’s also an emphasis on debates, presentations, using authentic topics and texts,  learner discussions and fluency development.  
  • a perfect complement to the structured syllabus of the 20 morning lessons

You’ll see your level improve and monitor your progress each week with the end- of- week test. Your teacher will discuss your progress with you and make personal recommendations. Homework is part of your learning journey, and this is assigned by your teachers every day. The library is open every afternoon, and there is a teacher there to help both boost your confidence and motivation as well as direct you to appropriate resources for your needs.

All our General English courses give you time to enjoy the social and cultural activities in GCI and explore the picturesque city of Galway.

Course content

Here at GCI we use only the most modern and up-to-date materials which reflect the way English is used as a global language. Your course is structured around an excellent 12-week syllabus with clear progression and weekly assessments. The syllabus is linked to the Common European Framework (CEFR) 'Can Do Statements'. Our experienced teachers also adapt and supplement lessons depending on  specific learner needs and requirements within the class group.

Your progress is assessed weekly in your classroom. This gives you the opportunity to decide if you need to review or practise more in any area. Your teacher will regularly discuss and analyse your progress with you. Homework is part of your learning journey, and every day your teachers assign specific tasks to help you improve your skills and progress towards fluency.      

Learn English in Galway

What support does Galway Cultural Institute offer me?

  • When you arrive, you’ll have a full welcome & induction meeting - you'll receive your own course book, which you’ll use every day in your lessons and for some of your home study tasks. 
  • You’ll have two teachers who’ll help you develop your English skills: speaking, reading, writing and listening, in addition to your language skills: grammar, vocabulary and communication.
  • Our school reception is open daily and our dedicated student services team are happy to help you with any questions you may have.
  • Our academic team are available in the weekly Student Support Meetings for any questions, problems, help or guidance. 
  • Our Student Portal helps you to manage your course documents, your timetable and other key information. 
  • Our learning platform Moodle guides you to guided learning resources and quizzes that will support your self-study.
  • We have a Social Activity Programme with activities every week - you can meet student from other classes, use your English in a relaxed way and learn more about Irish Culture
  • There are dedicated workshops for those who are looking to work in Galway to help you to improve your CV and find a job

Why should I choose Galway Cultural Institute to study English? 

  •   You’ll learn real English in a beautiful place – Galway – and also in a multicultural environment, using the very latest resources and technologies.
  • You’ll have fun and be challenged to succeed so you can communicate successfully with native English speakers and with people from all over the world.
  • You’ll get more out of your learning by receiving feedback from your teachers and structured weekly assessments which support monitoring of your progress and also help improve your confidence speaking English.

Ask a GCI team member

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