Study English at SIT

SIT's English Language Institute, Southern Lakes English College, offers a range of intensive English programmes to suit any English learner.

Our expert staff make it easy for you to achieve your English goals and prepare you for success in a wide range of contexts, including for further study and for business.

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Our lessons include:

Speaking

Classes have a strong emphasis on communication.
You will be encouraged to use a wide range of vocabulary.
Each class provides opportunities to practice your pronunciation, and you will be encouraged to communicate confidently and accurately with other English speakers.

Listening

You will engage in listening to a wide range of both formal and informal language, with a variety of accents from around the English-speaking world.

Reading

You will read a variety of genres and learn techniques for comprehension.
You will learn how to employ devices such as skimming and scanning, prediction and inference to find and process information.

Writing

You will be taught elements of several different writing genres, including techniques required to structure text in an appropriate way.
Our teachers will instruct you in a wide range of grammatical devices, and you will learn how to use both academic and informal vocabulary in a written context.

Fees, Finances & Scholarships

English Language Institute fees for international students are extremely competitively priced.

SIT offers General English, for $330.00 per week. Permanent Residents can apply for 19 weeks of English tuition for just $331.50 - this includes a student ID card.

Medical and Travel Insurance is a compulsory requirement for international students. SIT arranges insurance for you during your time here.

Start Dates & Placements

Take advantage of our flexible intakes. We accept students almost every week. You can begin your course on any week in the year except during SIT holidays.

You can start your course on almost any week you choose, excluding public holidays. Your Orientation will on Monday. Placement testing occurs on Tuesdays in the Invercargill campus and on Mondays in Queenstown. This ensures you are put into the class that best suits your learning needs. The placement test is free.

How to Apply

Complete SIT's International Application form and send it to us with the required documents.

Application Form

How to Apply

Hours

Classes run for 20 hours per week plus 5 hours of self-study. Free elective classes are also offered –

please check current timetable for the updated options.

Invercargill:
Monday to Thursday
9.00am to 12.00noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Queenstown:
Monday to Friday
8.30 am to 12.45pm

Cambridge Curriculum

SIT follows the internationally-recognised University of Cambridge curriculum for English as a Second Language. Accepted around the world, the Cambridge curriculum will help you learn the English language in an exciting and robust way. The curriculum is well-resourced and will guide your learning with a focus on Academic English.

Assessment

You will be carefully assessed on entry and throughout the course. Weekly tests are held every Monday. Progress tests are also held every 6 weeks to measure your retention throughout the course, and to assess which areas you need to work on.
Students are given individual feedback and Learner Action Plans every term with a one-on-one session with their teacher.

From English to mainstream

This course prepares students for the PTE Academic test so that they are able to achieve the required level of English proficiency for mainstream study. Apart from this, it also prepares students to communicate more effectively in the community, in employment and/or in further study options.

Learn English with Kiwi families

If you study English with us, you can live with a local family for at least the first six weeks. This helps you practice your English in everyday contexts and achieve your proficiency goals faster. It also gives you a unique opportunity to learn more about New Zealand culture.