NOVA lessons

When students first start studying at NOVA, they take a communicative ability test with a qualified instructor. The result determines their starting level. There is a set of four purpose-written textbooks for each level and each textbook contains fifty self-contained units designed to equip the student with the necessary skills for the next level. There is a step-by-step teaching guide for each level provided for instructor support.

All student records are kept in an electronic file system accessible through the school PCs. Lesson selection is a simple process of accessing the electronic files for the students in your class and comparing their past lesson records to find a suitable choice.

For regular group and one-on-one lessons, as well as most special lessons and courses, students enrolled in flexible booking study plans can book lessons online, by telephone, or in person, from up to seventeen days ahead until just minutes before the lesson starts. Schedules permitting, they can study whenever they like and wherever they like. It is not uncommon for the students to be meeting each other and the instructor for the first time at the beginning of the lesson. Hence it is always the instructor’s first priority to put everyone at ease with each other by setting up a simple communicative warm-up task connected to the lesson theme. This then progresses to the introduction of the key language, followed by pronunciation and listening practice.

As the lesson progresses, the students gain confidence in their own communicative ability and quickly begin to use the target language independently. This is then brought to bear in the application stage in the final section of the lesson, where the students use the language in a real life situation while the instructor observes the students and evaluates their performance. The aim of the lesson is to give the students the tools and the confidence to communicate and achieve the lesson goals independently.

The standard lesson format, common to all levels, ensures consistency, balance and a supported progression through the lesson stages. It allows new instructors to quickly become proficient in teaching a wide variety of students and ability ranges. The lesson format provides both a framework and the freedom to adapt and tailor lesson content to individual and group needs. It allows new instructors additional support as they learn how to make their lessons more adaptive and responsive.