Speaking for Newcomers

Stand-alone speaking lessons aimed at lower-level students and covering level-appropriate topics and themes.

Target students

These lessons are for students with a lower proficiency level who need to develop their speaking skills. Newcomers are the primary audience for these lessons, but long-term English learners and others who want to increase their confidence, accuracy, and fluency with oral English can benefit from them. Lessons in this series target WIDA Entering/CEFR A1 (12 lessons) and WIDA Emerging/CEFR A2 (12 lessons).

Key features

All lessons in this series are based around the following elements:

1. Topic-based content: Each lesson covers a specific topic and introduces only the language necessary for talking about that topic. By the end of the lesson, students have all the language tools they need to participate in a simple conversation about the lesson topic.
2. Scaffolded approach: Lessons start with example sentences and conversations to guide students. As the lessons progress, the amount of support given is gradually reduced. In this way, students are able to build confidence and personalize the language they use.
3. Repetition: Students are given numerous opportunities to repeat key language as the lesson progresses. This allows the students to internalize the correct forms.
4. Authentic language: Lessons are built upon authentic, level-appropriate conversations. Features of natural speech, such as echoing, responding, and questioning, are included allowing students to express themselves in a non-‘textbook’ manner.
5. Relevant topics: Each lesson in the series covers an engaging topic that is relevant to the lives of students.