SpeakingBasic level

English Speaking Course Basic

First conversations, with the confidence to keep talking.

Young learners learn useful spoken English in small, safe steps. They practise everyday phrases, answer and ask simple questions, describe pictures and tell short stories, with plenty of chances to speak in every class.

Grades
1-2
Age
6-7
CEFR level
Pre A1 to A1
Length
24 classes · 8 weeks
Enroll Now See the course map
Image to addA young learner waving and saying hello to classmates on a video call4:3
  • Live onlineReal-time classes with the instructor
  • 3 classes a weekThree times a week, live
  • 60 minutesEach class

Is this the right level?

A good fit if your learner...

  • Is in Grade 1 or 2, around 6 or 7 years old
  • Understands more English than they say
  • Answers with one word, or switches to Bangla to explain
  • Feels shy about speaking English in front of others

Not sure which level fits? Tell us your learner's age and how they use English now, and we will help you choose.

The speaking pathway

  1. 1BasicGrades 1-2 · Age 6-7 · Pre A1 to A1You are here
  2. 2IntermediateGrades 3-5 · Age 8-10 · A1 to A2
  3. 3AdvancedGrades 6-8 · Age 11-14 · A2 to B1

Speaking goals sit at the Pre A1 level of the CEFR, the international scale of language ability, and build towards A1. Moving up a full level usually takes more than one 3-month course.

The course map

What your learner will learn, module by module

24 live classes over 8 weeks, three a week. The course has 6 modules of 4 classes each. Every module practises listening, speaking, reading and writing, and ends with a project.

Module 1 of 6 Classes 1-4

Hello, This Is Me

Learners greet people and talk about themselves.

Language focus

  • Greetings and goodbyes
  • My name is, I am seven
  • Classroom phrases: Can you help me? I don't understand.
  • Clear sounds at the end of words

Topics and words

Names, ages, colours, numbers

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningWho is speaking? Match voices to faces
  • SpeakingIntroduce yourself to the class
  • ReadingRead and act out a greeting dialogue
  • WritingComplete a speech bubble about yourself
  1. Class 1Hear and notice
  2. Class 2Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 3Speaking tasks
  4. Class 4Module project

Module projectMy hello video card

Module 2 of 6 Classes 5-8

Family and Friends

Learners introduce and describe the people in their lives.

Language focus

  • This is my...
  • He has got, she has got
  • Short descriptions: tall, short, funny
  • Asking who: Who is this?

Topics and words

Family, friends, appearance

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningFind the person from a spoken description
  • SpeakingShow and tell a family photo or drawing
  • ReadingRead short descriptions and match them to people
  • WritingWrite captions for a family picture
  1. Class 5Hear and notice
  2. Class 6Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 7Speaking tasks
  4. Class 8Module project

Module projectShow and tell my family

Module 3 of 6 Classes 9-12

Things I Like

Learners share likes and dislikes and ask others.

Language focus

  • I like, I don't like
  • Do you like...? Yes, I do. No, I don't.
  • My favourite... is...
  • Question intonation

Topics and words

Food, toys, animals, games

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningTick what each speaker likes
  • SpeakingClass survey: Do you like...?
  • ReadingRead survey results and say what they show
  • WritingWrite three sentences about what you like
  1. Class 9Hear and notice
  2. Class 10Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 11Speaking tasks
  4. Class 12Module project

Module projectOur class likes chart

Module 4 of 6 Classes 13-16

Let's Play

Learners use English to play games together.

Language focus

  • Your turn, my turn
  • Can I have...? Here you are.
  • can and can't
  • Instructions: roll, move, stop

Topics and words

Games, actions, numbers

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningFollow game instructions
  • SpeakingPlay a board game using English only
  • ReadingRead simple game rules
  • WritingWrite rules for a simple game
  1. Class 13Hear and notice
  2. Class 14Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 15Speaking tasks
  4. Class 16Module project

Module projectTeach the class a game

Module 5 of 6 Classes 17-20

Picture Talk

Learners describe what they see in a picture.

Language focus

  • There is, there are
  • He is running, she is eating
  • Answering what, where and who questions
  • Using and to say more

Topics and words

Park, beach, zoo, home

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningFind the picture from a description
  • SpeakingDescribe a picture so a partner can draw it
  • ReadingRead questions about a picture and answer them
  • WritingLabel and describe a picture
  1. Class 17Hear and notice
  2. Class 18Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 19Speaking tasks
  4. Class 20Module project

Module projectPicture of my favourite place

Module 6 of 6 Classes 21-24

Tell Me a Story

Learners retell a short picture story.

Language focus

  • First, then, at the end
  • Story phrases: Once upon a time, The end
  • Talking about feelings: happy, sad, scared
  • Speaking slowly and clearly

Topics and words

Stories, feelings, animals

Four skills in this module

  • ListeningListen to a story and order the pictures
  • SpeakingRetell the story with picture cards
  • ReadingRead a short story with a partner
  • WritingWrite a sentence for each picture in a story
  1. Class 21Hear and notice
  2. Class 22Prepare and rehearse
  3. Class 23Speaking tasks
  4. Class 24Module project

Module projectTell my own picture story

Outcomes

By the end of the course, your learner can...

Clear goals in all four skills, written so you can notice them at home as well as in class.

Listening

  • Understands simple questions about themselves and familiar things
  • Follows instructions in games and activities

Speaking

  • Introduces themselves and answers simple personal questions
  • Describes a picture and tells a short story with sentence starters

Reading

  • Reads the key phrases and questions used in class
  • Reads a short dialogue aloud with a partner

Writing

  • Writes simple answers to questions about themselves
  • Writes a speech bubble or caption for a picture
Image to addA learner speaking confidently on camera while classmates listen in an online class4:5

Between classes

A short speaking practice from the PDF pack, such as recording a one-minute answer or practising phrases with family.

Inside a class

What happens in 60 minutes

  1. 5 minWarm-up chatEasy questions so every learner speaks within the first few minutes.
  2. 10 minListen to a modelA short model conversation or talk, with the useful phrases picked out.
  3. 10 minPrepare and rehearsePlanning time, sentence frames and practice in pairs before speaking to the group.
  4. 20 minSpeaking taskA real task: a role play, a discussion, a description or a short talk.
  5. 10 minFeedback and try againSpecific feedback, then the task is repeated so learners hear their own improvement.
  6. 5 minReflectLearners say one thing they did well and one thing to try next time.

For parents

How you will know your learner is progressing

  1. 1Feedback in every classThe instructor listens, notices where your learner needs help and gives support straight away.
  2. 2A project in every moduleEach module ends with a project, such as a poster, a story or a short talk, that shows what your learner can now do with the language.
  3. 3Monthly parent meetingEvery month you meet the instructor to talk about progress, strengths and what to practise at home.
  4. 4Advice at the end of the courseWhen the 24 classes finish, we talk with you about whether to continue at the same level or move up.
Image to addAn instructor talking with a parent on a video call, with the learner's work shown on screen16:9

What you receive

  • PDF learning materialsLesson materials and home practice for every module.
  • Class recordingsRecordings to revisit a lesson or catch up after a missed class.
  • Monthly parent meetingA regular meeting with the instructor about your learner's progress.
  • Clear next stepsAdvice on what to practise and when your learner is ready for the next level.

How this course is designed

Built on international levels and learning research

The speaking goals match those described for Cambridge English Pre A1 Starters, where learners answer personal questions about age, family, school and hobbies, follow spoken instructions and talk about pictures. It is not an exam course, but learners practise the same everyday skills.

Reference: Cambridge English Young Learners handbook (2024)

Read how we teach
  • Practice that brings learning backWe regularly ask learners to recall earlier language instead of only re-reading it, and we return to it across the course. Research on memory supports both retrieval practice and spacing.Source: Roediger & Karpicke (2006) Cepeda et al. (2006)
  • Support that is taken away step by stepNew language is first modelled and supported, then learners do more on their own. This idea of scaffolding comes from research on how adults help young learners solve problems.Source: Wood, Bruner & Ross (1976)
  • A balance of input, output and fluencyEvery module includes listening and reading, speaking and writing, focused language study and fluency practice, following Paul Nation's four strands.Source: Nation (2007), The Four Strands

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Something else on your mind? Message us and we will reply.

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How long is the course?

The course has 24 live classes over 8 weeks, three a week, and each class is 60 minutes. There are 6 modules and each module takes 4 classes. At the end we talk with you about whether your learner should continue at the same level or move up.

My learner is very shy. Will they be forced to speak?

No. Shy learners start by joining in chants, games and short answers with sentence starters. They speak more as they feel safe.

Should my learner also take the Grammar course?

They work well together but are not required. The Speaking course focuses on talking and listening. The Grammar course focuses on building correct sentences in speaking and writing.

What if my learner misses a class?

Every class is recorded, so your learner can watch it and complete the home practice before the next class. If something is unclear, the instructor can help at the start of the next class.

What do we need at home?

A laptop or tablet with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, a quiet place to sit, and a notebook and pencil. All learning materials are shared as PDFs.

How do I enroll?

Use the Enroll Now page to send your learner's details. We will contact you to confirm the batch, the class times and the next steps.

Ready to start the Basic Speaking Course?

Send us your learner's details and we will help you choose the right batch and class times.

Enroll Now See plans and fees

What comes next

After Basic, learners continue to the Intermediate level, which builds longer conversations, storytelling and giving reasons.

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