Speak Clearly: English Sounds and Confident Speech

This original Mai Studies course teaches spoken English through sounds rather than grammar rules first. Learners build from individual sounds to syllables, words, sentences and everyday conversation, with recorded narration for every lesson so the sound of the language is always available. It is written for learners who may have limited access to teachers or exam centres, and is free to enrol with no cost of any kind.

8 weeks 24 guided hours Level 1

Join membership to study

Included with Mai Studies membership at no extra cost. Fee waivers are available through scholarships and open access.

Speak Clearly: English Sounds and Confident Speech course artwork

What you will achieve

Recognise and produce the core sounds of spoken English
Break unfamiliar words into syllables and say them accurately
Use word and sentence stress so meaning is clear
Hold everyday conversations about yourself, work and study
Keep improving independently using listening and repetition routines

Entry guidance

— No previous English study required
— Ability to read the Latin alphabet is helpful but not essential

Original Mai Studies learning material. This is a professional completion programme, not a regulated qualification or university accreditation.

Programme syllabus

3 applied modules

Lessons: 6
Assessed tasks: 3
Practice questions: 36
Timed mock papers: 2

The sounds of English

Hear, recognise and produce the vowel and consonant sounds that carry meaning in spoken English.

2 lessons · 12 practice questions · 1 assessed task

1. Listening before speaking21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
Train your ear first: why hearing a sound accurately comes before producing it.
2. Vowel sounds that change meaning21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
Short and long vowel pairs, and why mixing them up changes the word.

The sounds of English: marked task — marked out of 100, pass at 80%

Syllables, stress and rhythm

Build words from sounds and place stress so listeners understand you first time.

2 lessons · 12 practice questions · 1 assessed task

1. Breaking words into syllables21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
Split any unfamiliar word into beats so you can say it without hesitation.
2. Word stress and sentence stress21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
Where to put the strength in a word and in a sentence so your meaning lands.

Syllables, stress and rhythm: marked task — marked out of 100, pass at 80%

Everyday speaking

Use your sounds in real conversations about yourself, your work and your studies.

2 lessons · 12 practice questions · 1 assessed task

1. Introducing yourself with confidence21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
A reliable structure for saying who you are, what you do and what you are learning.
2. Keeping a conversation going21 min study · 2 learning objectives · practical activity
Ask, listen, respond: the three moves that keep any conversation alive.

Everyday speaking: marked task — marked out of 100, pass at 80%

Timed mock papers

Speak Clearly: English Sounds and Confident Speech: timed mock paper 1 — 180 minutes, 30 objective questions plus written and computational tasks
Speak Clearly: English Sounds and Confident Speech: timed mock paper 2 — 180 minutes, 30 objective questions plus written and computational tasks

Lesson pages, assessed tasks and mock papers open the moment you join this programme. Teaching material is studied online; the notes you write are yours to download.

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