English learners can count on immersive experience at PICE
A full immersion into the Western Australian way of life awaits every student who attends Perth International College of English (PICE). During weekdays with peers and teachers in class, or outdoors on the beach or at a park during weekends, there is one form of communication: English only. The highly interactive exchange continues at home with an Australian family preselected to host the PICE student.
A full immersion into the Western Australian way of life awaits every student who attends Perth International College of English (PICE). During weekdays with peers and teachers in class, or outdoors on the beach or at a park during weekends, there is one form of communication: English only. The highly interactive exchange continues at home with an Australian family preselected to host the PICE student.
"The focus of our energy is the student experience," says John Paxton, founder and director of PICE. "Whether the student comes here for four weeks or 40 weeks to learn English, they're going to graduate from my school very content, having been looked after well."
Such a personal touch makes attending PICE an experience of a lifetime for students of a diverse nationality mix aiming to acquire English-language certification for many reasons, especially higher education purposes in Australia. After completing General English courses, International English Language Testing System preparation courses or Cambridge Exam courses at PICE, students may be eligible for entry into universities and colleges in Australia.
PICE is also a public test centre for the TOEIC, or Test of English for International Communication. TOEIC certification, which indicates the proficiency of a non-native English speaker on a scale of 10 to 990, boosts international prospects for job seekers from countries such as Japan and France.
"My job is to make sure that my teachers interact with the students on a personal level," Paxton says. "Every Friday, each student has a chance to talk to a teacher on a one-on-one basis."
These conversations are built into the curriculum to test students' English-speaking and listening skills. Such a rigorous academic programme ensures PICE's pathway agreements with universities - a stamp of quality recognised by educational institutions.
"Students attend class with peers from all over the world, then go out and experience Australia with their mates," Paxton says. "In conjunction with the homestay, it is an authentic Australian experience. That's what we guarantee here."
http://www.pice.com.au
