Intensive course in English

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 10

Intensive course in English

A special intensive English course will be run by the Christchurch Technical Institute in January' for techniIcians taking New Zealand • certificate courses offered by the Technicians’ Certification • Authority. The head of the general • studies department (Mr C. R. | Hockley) said that English • was a compulsory subject in (these courses, and the institute usually had more than 300 students attending the regular classes for three hours a week throughout the year. The vacation course, from January 23 to 27, followed a policy “common in American colleges of offering the opportunity of accelerated progress to certain students. These students who had failed some sections of the subject the previous year and who wanted to finish it without using another full year; and those who considered themselves already competent in the subject and wanted to pass without attending classes for a full year’s classes. Mr Hockley said the course would also cater for students who wanted extra tuition before regular weekly classes started. i “As far as lam aware, this |is the first instance of a techInical institute offering a (vacation opportunity for! ■students to complete a section of such an important (part of the curriculum as the (New Zealand Certificate ‘courses,” he said. I “Tire present development} • could have important impliI cations in the future so far las increased use of educational facilities during ‘shut ■down’ periods is concerned.”