#1 Best Teaching Professionals
Native English Speaking Teachers (NES) are fully qualified and registered with legal Working Permits (according to VN government regulations). They are selected according to their passion for ESL teaching and their ability to motivate and interest students in their English studies.
Vietnamese English Teachers are fully qualified and certified (methodology) according to Vietnamese government regulations for English teaching. Our Vietnamese English teachers have all completed IMEA English proficiency testing to achieve IELTS 6.0+ or IELTS 7.0+ (equivalent) according to teaching level.
Teacher induction and Professional Development: New teachers are fully trained in the IMEA Methodology and carefully supported to achieve successful learning outcomes for our students. Our teachers regularly attend Professional Development sessions and activities arranged by the Director of Studies.
IMEA Teaching Standards: IMEA has established a clear set of teaching standards aligned to International teaching competencies. Vietnamese English teachers can aspire to become Advanced English Skills Teacher (AEST), which rewards excellence in the classroom.
Teacher Appraisal: Our teachers are regularly observed and evaluated by the Director of Studies and encouraged to engage in regular Profession Development activities. IMEA aims to provide a supportive and collegial atmosphere in which ideas and best practice can be shared by all teachers and staff. In general, we want our teachers to engage in teaching practices which motivate, inspire, enthuse, and empower students to achieve rapid progress in the English language.
Our students regularly evaluate our teaching and performance through formal and informal course and teacher evaluations.
Bonus and Incentives: IMEA teachers and staff are acknowledged and financially rewarded for outstanding performance and achievement.
#2 Best Study Skills and Learning to Learn Programme
IMEA’s goal is to align our philosophy of education with the researched based and validated “Constructivist Curriculum”. This theory is based on observation and scientific study about how students learn. With IMEA’s well-planned curriculum, our students can actually learn HOW TO LEARN.
IMEA teaches our students how to learn, not what to learn.
Learning to Learn at IMEA
Learning to Learn encourages students to construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on those experiences. IMEA has developed our unique “Learning to Learn” (L2L) curricular which is now incorporated into all of our English courses.
In IMEA Stage 2 courses, students explore and develop academic skills required for higher education and university study. For example, some of the topics include:
- Independent study and Critical Thinking skills
- Academic study skills
- Critical self-reflection and Journal writing
- Life-long Learning
#3 Best School Facilities
IMEA was “purpose built” as an English Training Centre.
- Purpose built classrooms, all with air conditioning and fans
- Quiet environment designed for adult and young adult learners
- Australian design, custom made tables for flexible use/group work and comfortable stylish chairs. A “round table” learning atmosphere.
- 42 inch LCD TV screens, HDMI smart wired in 1080 format to DVD/TV/www, in every classroom
- Classroom computers with high-speed internet access, installed with the latest ESL learning software
- High-speed wireless internet access throughout the centre
- Half glass doors for student and staff protection
- Hard wired telephones in every room
#4 Best English Language Curriculum
At IMEA we believe that we have developed the most effective English learning courses available. We use highly effective curricula to maximise student learning outcomes.
Our Course Books: The English learning book series “New Cutting Edge” was chosen as the course book for IMEA Intensive General English because of its compatibility with the CEFR. New Cutting Edge combines a comprehensive syllabus with reliable teaching resources that makes our courses so popular and effective.
Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): All IMEA English courses are aligned to the “Common European Framework of Reference” (CEFR) which is the International benchmark defining levels and standards of achievement and competence in English learning.
These CEFR descriptors form the core of IMEA’s Intensive General English syllabus at all levels and are used to assess when a student is ready to move to the next level of study.
CEFR Level | CEFR Descriptor | IMEA English Level |
C2 | Mastery | Advanced |
C1 | Effective Operational Proficiency | Upper-Intermediate |
B2 | Vantage | Intermediate |
B1 | Threshold | Pre-Intermediate |
A2 | Way stage | Elementary |
A1 | Breakthrough | Beginner |
ALTE “Can do statements” – Competency Based Assessment.
The IMEA syllabus also incorporates the “can-do statements” developed by the Association of Language Testers in Europe, otherwise known as ALTE. These simplified set of statements provide over 400 descriptors for language examinations which relate to the Common Reference Levels (CEFR). They state clearly and simply the competencies students are expected to achieve before progressing to the next level.
Our core curriculum is enhanced by including a number of syllabus extras.
#5 Best Extra Syllabus Extension
All IMEA English courses are structured to include a variety of Extension Activitiescarefully designed to accelerate student learning and prepare students for “real life” native speaker interaction. During course-work lessons, our students learn English in a variety of contexts to improve communicative confidence. Our expanded curriculum provides extra scheduled time to allow further development of a variety of English skills:
Speaking: Students learn about oral presentation skills in class (according to level) and practice delivering presentations to “live” audiences.
Writing: Students explore a variety of writing styles and genres through class instruction and complete prescribed formative and summative assignments counting towards final assessment. IMEA students benefit greatly from the structured feedback available through our on-line writing facility imeawriting@gmail.com
Reading: Development of reading skills are encouraged through inter-class Reading Circles and the “reading for pleasure” programme. IMEA’s new library and reading centre is available to all students.
English Portfolio (EP): Provides opportunities for students to improve cultural awareness, knowledge and understanding. Students reflect on their progress through self-assessment activities. The EP is a record of student activity and achievement, assisting students to understand English usage in practical and “real-life” situations.
#6 Best Assessment, Reporting and Evaluation:
IMEA promotes and practices the Learning to Learn concept of “Continuous Assessment and Feedback”. IMEA provides students with a number of structured opportunities to reflect on their progress and learning, including monthly mini tests, self and peer assessment, reflective writing activities and progress surveys. Students are also asked to evaluate teaching performance and course presentation.
Students are required to take formal Mid-Level and End-of-Level exams (four skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking). Test results are presented to students with a full descriptive written report from their teachers.
#7 Best Self Study and Homework Programmes
IMEA emphasises the importance of self-study and homework. At the beginning of each course, students are provided with written instructions and topic questions for a number of summative assignments (with due dates) to be presented during the course. Formative tasks are completed in class with the assistance of the teacher.
Blended Learning: Students explore both in-class and out-of-class options to extend their English knowledge in meaningful ways through “blended Learning”. The objective of this approach is to use the vast resources of the internet to prepare students for “real life” native speaker interaction.
This approach encourages IMEA students to discover many ways to maximise opportunities for authentic language practice and exposure to different accents, social contexts and interactive language genres and experiences
#8 Best Student Services
IMEA’s friendly Student Services team is always available to provide assistance and advice to our students. We are committed to providing students with the resources and information they need to gain the most from their courses.
IMEA range of services include:
- Providing course information and Academic Counselling
- Arranging Placement Tests and interviews with the Director of Studies
- Arranging individual appointments to meet staff and teachers
- Meeting students to discuss academic progress and issues relating to your course or future study.
- Arranging extracurricular Student Activities
- Arranging course evaluations and processing student feedback
- Coordinating fee payment
#9 Best Placement Testing and Personalised Study Plan
When students begin an English course at IMEA it is essential they are placed in a class and level matching their English ability and proficiency.
IMEA provides a free placement test to all students enrolling at our centre. We have a number of placement test options for students depending on their existing English ability and the courses they wish to take.
Students will then attend a speaking interview with our Director of Studies (native speaker), who will discuss the students goals and ambitions and recommend a class.
IMEA will develop a personalised study plan with each student which will be revised as circumstances change.
#10 Best Guarantee of English Learning Success
Students who meet the study requirements of a course but do not achieve the necessary competencies and skills to progress to the next level of study can take the course again, (or extra hours of study), free of charge. Students can take a supplementary exam to progress to the next level. Conditions apply.