What is the difference between Green Leaders and General English

Green Leaders Course for Young Learners at WSE Juniors

At both of Wimbledon School of English's Junior Centres, there are two main courses available for juniors: Green Leaders and General English.

Green Leaders is a specially designed English course for young people who are interested in environmental matters and sustainable living. In contrast, General English is a more traditional English language course that covers all aspects of English language learning.

Let’s look at both courses to compare.

General English is for students aged 12+, from CEFR Levels Pre-Intermediate (A2) up to Proficiency (C2).

Green Leaders is for students aged 14+, from CEFR Levels Intermediate (B1) up to Proficiency (C2).

One main difference between the General English course and the Green Leaders course is the approach to learning. Green Leaders is a more interactive course that focuses on experiential learning, with lots of group work, project-based learning.

General English is more traditionally structured and will help students improve in all areas of the English Language: grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, pronunciation, reading and writing.

Both courses include WSE’s 5 Cs of 21st Century Learning which are designed to help students develop essential life skills to deal with an ever-changing world.

What are Wimbledon School of English’s 5 Cs of 21st Century Learning?

WSE’s 5 Cs of 21st Century Learning are:

• Critical Thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Creativity
• Confidence

What is Green Leaders?

The Green Leaders course is designed to provide young students with the opportunity to learn about environmental issues and develop leadership skills for a sustainable future.

By making students responsible for their own learning, this course engages young people with the world they live in and empowers them to take control of their actions. It encourages students to use English and targets the language they need.

A new approach to the classroom

Students learn best when they are interested in a topic, but everyone is different so getting a whole class interested in one topic is tough. This is where the problem- based approach comes in. Every Monday, a topical and relevant problem will be presented to the students, who will spend the week working together in groups to find solutions to that problem.

During the course, students will participate in a variety of activities, including micro-workshops, discussions, and ‘brain workouts’, all of which are focused on sustainability and eco-friendly practices.

Topics

Every week focusses on a specific topic. They are all multi-disciplinary and involve the use of numerous skills and school subjects within a real-life scenario. Students learn how to plan and carry out their own research, with a teacher there to help them. Example topics include:

• Greening the school
• Planning for human life on Mars
• Building a sustainable house
• Promoting the ‘Next Big Thing!’
• Setting up an ecological business

Some of the other topics covered in the Green Leaders course include climate change, recycling, energy conservation, and sustainable fashion. Students will also learn about the importance of biodiversity and the impact of human activities on the environment.

Micro Workshops

To help students to get the most out of their lessons, every day includes at least one micro workshop on subjects relevant to the students’ work. These micro workshops will be focussed on the students’ own requirements at the time, and could include:

• Research skills
• Judging the validity of information
• Letter writing
• Group work & conflict resolution
• Proposal planning
• Analysis of results
• Presenting data

On the Green Leaders course the students will be able to develop teamwork, creativity, and communication skills through various project works, presentations, and debates.

The Green Leaders course is delivered by dedicated teachers whose teaching methods are interactive, engaging and tailored to the students' needs and interests.

The outcome of the two courses is also different. Students who participate in Green Leaders will have a stronger understanding of environmental issues, how they impact the world, and what they can do to help. Students who take General English will have an improved English language ability and the confidence to communicate effectively in a range of situations.

In summary, the difference between Green Leaders and General English comes down to the focus, approach, and outcome of the courses. Both courses offer exciting and beneficial learning experiences, and students can choose whichever course best suits their needs and interests.

Both courses take place in fantastic destinations in the UK where young learners can improve their English and make great friends and memories for life.

Find out more about our Green Leaders and General English courses plus the great Skills Workshops available at LWC and WSE, visit the links below.

WSE: Junior English course in London Wimbledon (wimbledon-school.ac.uk)

LWC: Junior English course at Lord Wandsworth College (wimbledon-school.ac.uk)

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Email: Support@wimbledon-school.ac.uk

Phone: +44 (0) 20 8947 1921 

Office hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 - 17:00 UK Time.