Study & Work – 25 Weeks Programme
Academic Year Programme for Non-EEA Students
The Academic Year Programme for Non-EEA students is a 25 weeks tuition course within an 8 month study period with 15 hours of tuition per week and is suitable for students needing a student study visa to Ireland and we offer assistance for visas for this course.
Once you have registered onto this programme we will issue you with a letter of Acceptance which you may use to apply for your Study Visa.
As a visa student in Ireland, you must register as a full-time student with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB – The Irish Police) and then you will also be permitted to work part-time in Ireland (up to a maximum of 20 hours a week and full-time during vacation periods) to support yourself.
At the Rightword Institute, we will help and guide you with this process. We will be here to offer assistance and support during your whole period with us. From weekly walking tours to full support with emergency numbers, help on setting yourself up with PPS numbers, opening your bank accounts, immigration and CV workshops.
Rightword Offers General English classes from Beginner level (A0) to Advanced level (C1) based on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference). The aim of these courses is to develop our students’ confidence and skills in using the English language.
Our students will have the opportunity to practise and develop the four major skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking), while also focussing on grammar and pronunciation.
Rightword follows a communicative-based teaching approach with an emphasis on building the students’ confidence in order to successfully use English in their daily lives, whether it be for work, study or travel.
Our classes also allow for flexibility as we value the individual needs of all our students. Students can track their progress through our weekly tests and record this in their individual learner journals.
Students at Rightword prepare for the TIE exam as it is a requirement for all visa-students to take an external official English exam at the end of their course.
The TIE exam is a learner-centred exam which is designed to recognise and accommodate the needs and interests of each learner whatever their level of English, age, cultural or educational background.
Preparation for the TIE exam is built into the syllabus over a 6-week period. Rightword aims to promote cultural awareness during the TIE sessions by using authentic Irish materials, such as newspapers and books and speaking about the students’ personal experiences in Ireland.
Every week we organise school events which give you the opportunity to use and practise the English you have learned in class, mix with other students, meet Irish people and have lots of fun at the same time.
Teachers will accompany you on all social events. Our social activities are well organised, fun and are a great way to make friends. So whether you like playing football or dancing, visiting museums or taking tours or just enjoying a pint of Guinness in a lively Limerick pub, Rightword Institute has something to offer you!
Class Size
14 students max
Times (Monday to Friday)
9am to 12.15pm – Morning Classes
1.30pm to 4.45pm – Afternoon Classes
Hours per Week
15 hours
Starting Date
Every Monday
Levels
Beginner (A0 – A1 on the CEFR*)
Elementary (A1 – A2 on the CEFR)
Pre-Intermediate (A2+ – B1 on the CEFR)
Intermediate (B1 – B1+ on the CEFR)
Intermediate Plus (B1+ – B2 on the CEFR)
Upper-intermediate (B2 – B2+ on the CEFR)
Advanced (B2+ – C1 on the CEFR)
Exam Preparation
TIE
Levels
Before commencing classes, students will take a level test and an oral test to check their level of English and then will be placed in an appropriate class according to their level test results.
The “A” Levels – Basic User
Beginner (A0 – A1 on the CEFR) – Learners who have little or no previous experience of English
Elementary (A1 – A2 on the CEFR) – Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases. Can make introductions and can ask and answer questions about personal details. Can interact in a simple way.
Pre-Intermediate (A2+ – B1 on the CEFR) – Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance. Can communicate in simple and routine tasks. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.
The “B” Levels – Independent User
Intermediate (B1 – B1+ on the CEFR) – Can maintain interaction and get across what you want to in familiar contexts. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes and ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
Intermediate Plus (B1+ – B2 on the CEFR) – Can maintain interaction in a broader range of contexts and interact with a degree of spontaneity. Can understand some more complex language.
Upper-Intermediate (B2 – B2+ on the CEFR) – Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
The “C” Levels – Proficient User
Advanced (B2+ – C1 on the CEFR) – Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously. Can use language flexibility and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects.
Learner Pathway
All students will take a written and oral placement test before being placed at a suitable level. The teachers and academic team work with students to help them achieve their personal study goal.
Weekly class tests allow both teachers and students to monitor progress and our learner journals empower students to take control of their own learning and self-monitor their development and achievements along the way.
Rightword’s 12 Week Curriculum
- Week 1: Begin class and meet SSO
- Week 2: Classes and assessment
- Week 3: Speaking assessment
- Week 4: One-to-one feedback session with the class teacher
- Week 5: Practice level test
- Week 6: Level change test
- Week 7: Classes and assessment
- Week 8: Classes and assessment
- Week 9: Speaking assessment
- Week 10: One-to-one feedback session
- Week 11: Practice level test
- Week 12: Level change test
Frequently Asked Questions
Non EEA/EU students are eligible to work 20 hours per week during the complete duration of their stay. Students are granted permission to work 40 hours per week providing they are on a holiday period from lessons during:
15th December – 15th January
May-August inclusive
Non EEA/EU students are allowed an 8 week holiday period providing they have booked a course for a minimum of 25 weeks in duration completed within an 8 month study period, 15 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Citizens of certain countries who wish to pursue a course of study in Ireland must apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here. Information on those who need an entry visa is available in our document: Visa requirements for entering Ireland.
Students from certain countries such as Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan do not need a visa to enter Ireland. However if they plan on staying in Ireland for more than 90 days they must register with the INIS office (Immigration) in Limerick after arrival. Staff at Rightword Institute will assist and provide all the necessary documents for the registration process at the INIS Office.
You can search for a job on websites such as jobs.ie and LinkedIn. Networking with your friends here at school can also be a good way to find out what jobs are available. Many shops and restaurants will put jobs notices in their windows.
We have regular FREE workshops here at the school to help students prepare their C.V.and to prepare the English required for a job interview. Please check our Social Programme to find out when the next workshop will be planned.
All Visa requiring international students are required to have private medical insurance, either personally or through a group scheme at time of registration. To support you meeting this requirement Rightword Institute’s tuition fees for visa requiring international students includes payment an approved insurance policy, which the school purchases for you upon receipt of full tuition fee payment.
