The course consists of 3 hours per week, divided into 2 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes.

We work with small groups, normally with a maximum of 8 students, allowing for active participation, close monitoring and demanding work across speaking, writing, comprehension and use of English.

Throughout the course, we work on the main skills needed to progress towards C1 in an integrated way:

Reading and Use of English – understanding increasingly complex and demanding texts, expanding vocabulary, collocations, expressions and phrasal verbs, word formation, advanced grammatical structures and precise use of English.

Writing – developing clear, well-structured and increasingly sophisticated texts, with attention to organisation, cohesion, register, accuracy, range of language and the ability to develop arguments and ideas.

Listening – understanding conversations, interviews, discussions, presentations and other more complex audio, paying attention not only to explicit information but also to opinions, attitudes, intention, tone and implied meaning.

Speaking – developing more fluent, precise and flexible spoken English, learning to develop and qualify ideas, justify opinions, speculate, construct arguments and interact naturally and effectively.

Throughout the course, students are also progressively introduced to the format and some of the task types in Cambridge C1 Advanced, without specific exam preparation becoming the main focus of lessons at this stage.

Homework is a regular and important part of the course, both to consolidate work completed in class and to develop the independence and study habits required at advanced levels.

In Raise the Bar, the main objective is to help students make the transition from a good upper-intermediate level towards genuinely advanced use of English.

As students approach C1, it is no longer enough for their English simply to be correct or understandable. We work towards giving students different ways of expressing an idea, using vocabulary and structures with greater precision, adapting their register and communicating more complex and nuanced meanings.

For this reason, particular attention is given to lexical range, collocations and natural expressions, grammatical control, accuracy, cohesion and the ability to reformulate ideas. Students progressively learn to recognise not only whether an expression is correct, but which option is more natural or appropriate in a particular context.

We also aim for greater depth in communication. In Speaking and Writing, students learn to develop arguments, justify and qualify opinions, compare perspectives, speculate and organise complex ideas clearly.

Comprehension also becomes more demanding. We work with texts and audio that require students to interpret attitudes, intention, tone, opinion and implied meaning, as well as understand explicitly stated information.

Alongside this language development, we progressively introduce tasks from Cambridge C1 Advanced. These activities allow students to become familiar with the demands of the exam while providing particularly useful contexts for developing the language skills associated with C1.

During this first year, however, language development continues to take priority over exam technique. Specific and systematic preparation for taking C1 Advanced intensifies in the second year of the pathway.

In Raise the Bar, students progressively develop the language skills associated with C1 level, normally starting from a solid B2/B2+ foundation.

In Reading, we work with longer, denser and more linguistically demanding texts. Students develop strategies for understanding both overall meaning and detail, identifying arguments and viewpoints, interpreting the writer’s tone and attitude and recognising implied information and meaning.

In Use of English, students considerably expand their linguistic repertoire through work on collocations, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, word formation, transformations, lexical patterns and advanced grammatical structures. Particular attention is given to accuracy and the ability to choose language that is natural and appropriate to the context.

In Writing, students learn to develop longer and more sophisticated texts, organise arguments clearly and use an increasingly broad range of language. Particular attention is given to structure, cohesion, register, accuracy, range and development of ideas, while progressively introducing some of the text types and tasks associated with C1 Advanced.

In Listening, students work with an increasingly complex range of speakers, contexts and types of discourse. They learn to identify specific information, follow arguments, recognise opinions and attitudes and understand intention, tone and implied meaning, even when ideas are not expressed directly.

In Speaking, we develop the ability to speak with greater fluency and spontaneity, use a broader range of linguistic resources and develop, justify and qualify opinions, as well as speculate, compare alternatives, respond to other people’s ideas and maintain more complex and natural interactions.

Throughout the course, students are also progressively introduced to the four Cambridge C1 Advanced papers: Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking. They begin to familiarise themselves with their characteristics and some of their task types, but these are integrated into broader language-development work.

The objective of this first year is for students to finish the course with considerably more advanced, precise and flexible English, greater independence as learners and a solid foundation from which to continue towards C1 and subsequently undertake more specific preparation for Cambridge C1 Advanced.

Do students need previous knowledge of English or a level test?

Yes. Raise the Bar is designed for students starting from approximately a strong B2 or B2+ level who are ready to begin developing the skills associated with C1.

Students do not need to have completed our previous courses. For new students, we may recommend a level test to make sure this is the most appropriate course.

For students who already study with us, we can normally recommend the appropriate group based on their progress and work during the previous course.

What ages and school years is Raise the Bar designed for?

The course is designed for teenagers in ESO and Bachillerato whose English level is compatible with the objectives of the course.

At this level, English level plays a particularly important role when forming groups, but we also take into account age, school year, maturity and pace of learning.

Wherever possible, we aim to form groups with students from nearby school years and of relatively similar ages, avoiding large age differences.

What is the difference between Raise the Bar and Seal the Deal?

Raise the Bar is the first year of our C1 Advanced pathway. The priority is to develop students’ English from approximately a strong B2/B2+ towards C1, while progressively introducing the format, demands and some of the task types of Cambridge C1 Advanced.

Seal the Deal is the second year. At this stage, students have a more advanced language foundation and Cambridge C1 Advanced preparation becomes much more systematic and specific, with the aim of taking the exam when they have reached the necessary level and degree of preparation.

Do students take C1 Advanced at the end of Raise the Bar?

Normally, no. Raise the Bar is the first year of the pathway and its main objective is to develop students’ English towards C1, rather than prepare them to take the exam immediately.

Throughout the course, students are progressively introduced to the format and tasks of C1 Advanced, but specific exam preparation intensifies in Seal the Deal.

Progression can vary from one student to another, and we will always take into account their level, progress and degree of preparation before recommending that they take an official exam.

How many students are there in each group?

We work with small groups, normally with a maximum of 8 students, allowing for active participation, close monitoring and more individualised work on the areas each student needs to improve.

Are the teachers native English speakers?

Our team consists of native English-speaking teachers or teachers with an equivalent level of English, with experience in teaching advanced levels and working with teenagers.

Are classes taught entirely in English?

English is the main language of communication in the classroom. Spanish or Catalan may occasionally be used when useful for clarifying particularly complex concepts, but the use of English is actively encouraged throughout the lesson.

At this level, students are expected to use English with an increasing degree of independence, accuracy and flexibility.

Will students have homework?

Yes. Homework is a regular and important part of the course, and students will need to work outside the classroom to consolidate and extend what they have learned in class.

Tasks may include Reading and Use of English, Writing, Listening and Speaking, as well as vocabulary, grammar and other language consolidation and extension activities.

At this level, students are also expected to develop greater independence, responsibility and ability to organise their own study.

What happens if a student misses a class?

If a student is unable to attend a class, we will provide the information and/or materials needed to catch up, whenever possible. As these are group classes, sessions missed due to a student’s absence cannot be made up individually or deducted from the course fee.

How are monthly fees calculated?

The price is calculated based on the full academic year and teaching calendar, and the total amount is divided into 10 equal monthly payments. The monthly fee therefore does not correspond to the exact number of classes held during that particular month.

Due to public holidays, school holidays and the distribution of the academic calendar, some months contain more classes than others, but these variations are already taken into account in the total course price.

What happens if Eureka has to cancel a class?

If Eureka has to cancel a class and we are unable to provide a substitute teacher, we will offer a replacement session. If it is not possible to reschedule the class, the corresponding amount will be deducted from the following fee, whether paid monthly or termly.

Are there any discounts available?

Yes. We offer a 5% Family Members (FM) discount on monthly fees when two or more members of the same family are enrolled.

In addition, students who are members of Club Natació Sabadell may be eligible for a discount on the enrolment or place reservation fee. Full conditions can be found under Discounts.

Family Members (FM)

Cuando dos o más miembros de la misma familia están matriculados en Eureka, cada uno recibe un 5% de descuento en su cuota mensual mientras coincidan sus matrículas durante el curso.

Por ejemplo, si hay dos hermanos matriculados, ambos reciben un 5% de descuento en su mensualidad.

Socios del Club Natació Sabadell (CNS)

Los alumnos que sean socios del Club Natació Sabadell pueden beneficiarse de un descuento de 10 € en la matrícula o reserva de plaza:

• Nuevos alumnos: matrícula de 35 € en lugar de 45 €.
• Alumnos actuales: reserva de plaza de 20 € en lugar de 30 €.

Condiciones de los descuentos

El descuento Family Members (FM) se aplica a las cuotas mensuales de cada miembro de la familia.

El descuento para alumnos socios del Club Natació Sabadell (CNS) se aplica únicamente a la matrícula o reserva de plaza, según corresponda.

Los descuentos y promociones no son acumulables entre sí, salvo que se indique expresamente lo contrario en las condiciones de una promoción concreta.