Developing confident and independent language use
Age: 7–9
Level: Basic knowledge of English required
Lesson length: 60 minutes
Format: In person
Programme: Full academic year, October 2026 – June 2027
Frequency: Twice a week
English SpeakUp 7–9 is designed for children who already have a basic foundation in English and are ready to develop greater confidence and independence in using the language.
The programme provides balanced development across the key language skills, including vocabulary, grammar, listening, pronunciation, reading and progressively more independent writing. Alongside this structured language development, particular emphasis is placed on enabling learners to use English actively and purposefully.
Rather than learning vocabulary and grammatical structures in isolation, students are encouraged to apply new language in conversations, practical tasks, collaborative activities and projects. In this way, linguistic knowledge is systematically developed alongside the ability to use English effectively in context.
SpeakUp is therefore not a conversation-only course. It is a structured language programme in which language development and meaningful communication reinforce one another.
Our approach
New vocabulary and grammatical structures are introduced through age-appropriate contexts and consolidated through carefully structured practice. Learners then progress towards increasingly independent application of the target language.
A distinctive element of the programme is the integration of language learning with practical, creative and project-based activities. Depending on the theme, learners may experiment, design, build, create, take part in movement-based tasks and drama activities, prepare short presentations, or work collaboratively to complete a specific task.
These activities are an integral part of the learning process. They create purposeful contexts in which students need to draw on the language they have acquired in order to communicate, collaborate, solve problems and achieve a practical outcome.
As a result, vocabulary and grammar are consistently connected with meaningful use, while the level of independence expected from learners increases progressively throughout the programme. This progression from structured input and controlled practice towards practical language production is embedded in the programme methodology.
Language in action
EXPERIMENTING
Simple experiments and observations provide meaningful contexts for introducing, consolidating and applying new language.
CREATING AND DESIGNING
Creative tasks and projects encourage learners to use English while planning, making decisions and working towards a defined outcome.
COLLABORATING
Pair and group work develops learners’ ability to respond, ask questions, exchange information and interact with others in English.
PRESENTING AND EXPRESSING IDEAS
Learners gradually develop the language and confidence required to describe their work, communicate ideas and speak to a wider group.
LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE
Themes drawn from science, the natural world, arts and design, food, sport and theatre provide varied contexts in which language can be explored and actively applied.
Areas of development
Throughout the programme, learners develop:
- an increasingly broad range of practical and functional vocabulary;
- core grammatical structures and their application in context;
- listening comprehension, including the ability to follow instructions and increasingly extended spoken input;
- the ability to ask questions, respond appropriately and participate in short exchanges;
- clearer pronunciation and greater awareness of spoken English;
- confidence in interacting with teachers and peers;
- progressively greater independence in reading and writing;
- the ability to transfer familiar language to new contexts and situations.
Expected outcomes
Over the course of the programme, learners are expected to move from language use that requires greater teacher support towards increasingly independent and purposeful communication in English.
They develop the ability to initiate short exchanges, use familiar vocabulary and functional language with less prompting, draw on language encountered across different topics, and employ simple communication strategies when they do not yet have the precise vocabulary required to express an idea.
The programme aims to develop confidence, linguistic independence and flexibility, while systematically extending learners’ vocabulary, grammatical competence and receptive and productive skills.
By the end of the programme, students should be increasingly able to draw on their existing language resources independently and use English across a broader range of familiar communicative contexts.