Get Communicating

This course is an opportunity for students who enjoy writing about local, national and international stories to develop their journalistic skills and to get their work out to the public. As well as working towards a bi-termly, in-house magazine, students have the option of joining our Young Reporter scheme run by Newsquest Media.This exciting scheme provides the chance for students to work as real journalists for eight months and all of their articles are uploaded onto the Colchester Gazette website. Have a look to see the wide range of stories published. https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/youngreporter/ As well as having your stories published on the Gazette website, those of you who complete the scheme receive a letter of recognition from the regional editor and the chance to compete against hundreds of students to win prizes and attend a media award ceremony. There are also frequent opportunities to apply for the chance to interview a celebrity or bid for free tickets to shows that you can review. You also have mentoring sessions (via Teams) run by the scheme organiser which offer practical advice from someone within the industry itself.This work experience is great for using on CVs, UCAS applications and is obviously very useful if you want to go into journalism.

The Debating Society offers you the chance to discuss the issues that matter to you. Each week, a team of up to six students debates an issue and tries to persuade the audience to vote for their side. The topics are yours to choose, from moral dilemmas to inte rnational affairs and social issues.No one has to take part in public speaking but we welcome people who are keen to debate and every year we hope to enter teams in local and national competitions including the Model United Nations. Anyone considering a career in law, politics, acting or teaching has a lot to gain by taking part in debating. It is a challenging and exciting way to develop your confidence and fluency.

Mainly for ESOL students who need to learn:

Punctuation & word terminology and rules

Figures of speech

Language features

Writing techniques for emphasis

Basic sentence structure

Basic paragraph structure

Especially useful for those who are studying for English GCSE/basic A-Level requirements

For ESOL students who already have English GCSE 4 or above. Mainly for students who need to learn:

Higher level sentence structure

Essay planning techniques

Paragraph structure

Analysing questions

Higher level reading essay comprehension

Summarising / expanding information techniques

Proof reading techniques etcetera…

For short term ESOL support (1 ~ 4 weeks). Seen through referral from the student/tutor/teacher, in discussion with the ESOL teacher (David P) and Learning Support (Alison D). Mainly for students who need support with one or two specific issues to do with their language. Times arranged according to timetable free periods.

See “get qualified”

Would you like to learn another language without having to worry about taking an exam? Hoping to go to Europe travelling or on holiday to Italy? Want to look more impressive when ordering food in your favourite Italian restaurant? This is the additional study for you. No experience of Italian is necessary, although some previous study of a foreign language would be helpful.

Anime? Would you like to speak Japanese? Japan for a gap year? If you are thinking about learning Japanese then this course is for you! There`s lots of fun while you are learning. Topics to be covered include, introducing yourself, speaking, listening and writing, shopping, origami, how fun & mindful an activity it is, writing calligraphy in Japanese, and learning Japanese culture & history. Do you know there was an African Samurai in the 16th century and English Samurai in the 17th century in Japan? For those who really enjoy the course there will be an opportunity to continue their studies into their second year.

This is a one-year course, one lesson per week. You need no previous knowledge of Latin or of the ancient world, although a general knowledge of the world of ancient Greece and Rome would be useful. If you are studying another language or History, English or Classical Civilisation, Latin would be a useful complement to your studies. Apart from enjoyment, there are many benefits of learning basic Latin. It will make you think about your own language, e.g. what is the origin of words like television, fax, birth by caesarean section, habeas corpus, Colchester? Where do expressions like e.g., i.e., NB, PS come from? It will also help you improve your knowledge of English grammar. You will learn something about an ancient culture and the way they lived. You will be able to put it on your UCAS form and the subject is particularly relevant for students considering applying to Oxbridge.

Are you interested in Chinese culture and language? Are you thinking of travelling or taking a gap year? Are you fascinated by Chinese characters? The course will enable you to greet people, introduce yourself and your family, buy things and identify objects. The focus is on spoken & listening skills, but will also cover basic character recognition. No previous knowledge of Chinese is needed.

Our Introduction to British Sign Language (BSL) is the perfect first step on your British Sign Language BSL journey. The Introduction to British Sign Language course is designed for students who want to gain a foundation in BSL and learn about the deaf community. This is ideal for anyone who is curious to learn the basics of British Sign Language. Sessions are fun, practical and designed for all students. Do you want to know how to sign your name? Learn the BSL alphabet and key signs in various topics such as weather, food and drink and hobbies and interests. This course will give you the key skills in sign language, teaching you all the fundamental signs that form the basis of British Sign Language.

Storm Radio is the sound of The Sixth Form College. Student volunteers present three shows a day, guided by experienced second year producers. You will gain presenting skills, confidence and experience with broadcast equipment. As well as playing music, we record podcasts, review new releases and organise live DJing events using a Numark Omni controller. Several volunteers have gone on to senior positions at university radio stations across the country.