Hawthorn-Melbourne is able to provide short courses and study tours to client groups that are tailored to meet individual needs and preferences. Tailor made courses can be put together for groups of students staying in Australia for one week to 12 months, and of any size.

In the past our clients for this kind of program have included:

• Schools, sending students for holiday English tours of three weeks to two months
• Universities and Junior Colleges, sending students for intensive periods of study at Hawthorn-Melbourne, for which they receive credit into their degree programs at home
• Overseas Governments, sending staff or nominees for specialist training in English or in other work-related training
• Companies, sending groups of staff overseas for incentive training programs

Hawthorn-Melbourne takes pride in designing our courses to meet the specific needs of groups and of particular programs. Short courses cover the following areas:

• Study tours
• Technical visits
• Teacher professional development (EFL/ESL and LOTE – Languages other than English)
• English + (for example: Australian Studies, voluntary work, outdoor activities)
• English for business (including an Intensive English for Executives Program)
• English for medical purposes
• Presentation skills
• Environmental studies
• Special interest group programs
  

People have a variety of reasons for wishing to do a short course of study or to participate on a tour program combined with language study. Because of this variety, we offer to tailor-make programs to suit the particular needs of each group. For example, some groups seek to maximise the amount of formal classroom tuition they can gain in the time available, whereas others look for a combination of classroom tuition and excursions to places of interest.

On programs with a mix of lessons and activities, the mornings are given over to tuition and the afternoons to activities. In all courses, the main focus is on general conversation English; these are designed around topics (eg 'Social Customs in Australia', 'Australian Education' etc). On days when visits are planned, students are prepared with the necessary vocabulary, structures or historical, geographical and social background material.

The educational needs and background of each group is taken into consideration when designing the programs, and being linked to the University of Melbourne, the Centre can call on the resources of various faculties and departments to provide the necessary expertise.