Courses

Melbourne Language Centre’s English for Secondary Schools is considered to be the premier course of its kind in Victoria. The curriculum recognises the dual need for students to develop their general English language skills while also preparing them for future study in Australian high schools.

The focus of the morning class sessions is on English language and communication, and students are grouped by their English proficiency. In the afternoon classes, the students explore academic language pertaining to the Australian curriculum. Students are grouped by their year level in school in the afternoon, and they normally have a different teacher.

Specialist teachers are employed to teach mathematics and science, with students introduced to the concepts they can expect to study at their future schools. Homework is an integral part of the student program and is monitored by the classroom teacher on a daily basis. Excursions are organised regularly and include a range of cultural and social activities such as visits to museums, sightseeing tours, day hikes, sports days and BBQs.

The course is underpinned by:

• Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), including maths, science, literature, history, geography, art and PE
• Aspects of Victorian Curriculum Foundation–10 for EAL
• Effective use of educational technology for both individual and group activities
• Regular cultural/social activities and excursions
• Excellence in teaching practice for all macro skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and enabling skills (pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation)
• Regular liaison with a broad network of both independent and government pathway schools

Teaching

The teaching and assessment methods at MLC include:

• Traditional classroom delivery
• Online support materials
• Consideration of different learning styles, abilities and preferences
• Group work and pair work, as well as individual assignments
• Interactive educational games and activities
• Regular formal and informal assessments and reports/feedback

Melbourne Language Centre’s English for Junior Schools is specifically designed to prepare young children to transition into Australian schools.

This course offers comprehensive, engaging and student-centred classes with high-quality resources that enrich the learning environment and facilitate language acquisition. Class sizes are kept small to ensure every student gets individual support from teachers.

The course is underpinned by:

• Integration of Cambridge English: Young Learners (YLE)
• Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), including maths, science, literature, history, geography, art and PE
• Aspects of Victorian Curriculum Foundation–10 for EAL
• Effective use of educational technology for both individual and group activities
• Regular cultural/social activities and excursions

• Interactive educational games and activities, including VR, Robotics and Coding, and Lego

• Yoga and meditation class
• Music / Arts classes
• Excellence in teaching practice for all macro skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and enabling skills (pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and punctuation)
• Small and focused classes with support for every student
• Regular liaison with a broad network of both independent and government pathway schools

Teaching

The teaching and assessment methods at MLC include:

• Traditional classroom delivery
• Online support materials
• Consideration of different learning styles, abilities and preferences
• Group work and pair work, as well as individual assignments
• Regular formal and informal assessments and reports/feedback

All new students take a placement test on their first day to determine their English proficiency and to place them in the appropriate class. Regular assessments are conducted to track students’ progress and to promote them to the appropriate class.

Students who are enrolled for more than 5 week will receive comprehensive progress reports which will also be sent to their chosen pathway schools (if we are advised of the details) every 5 weeks. The program manager regularly liaises with the schools’ International Student Coordinator to update them on their students’ progress at MLC. Pathway schools are also invited to meet their students at MLC prior to the mainstream course commencement. This ensures that students have a smooth transition into the school system and are confident in their new school life.

Diagnostic assessment at the beginning of the course is used to determine the proficiency level of students.

Continuous/Progress assessment is conducted to monitor and track students’ progress during the course.

Junior school preparation: 7 -11 years old
High school preparation: 12-18 years old

Parents/legal custodians of students under 12 years old are required to drop children off at the classroom and sign them out.

Melbourne Language Centre runs classes throughout the year, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays. MLC does not close for term or school holidays. Saturday school can be arranged in special circumstances.

MLC accepts new students every Monday.

 View fee list here.