If you’re starting a spoken English course or planning to become a trainer, the biggest question is: what to teach in spoken English to ensure students actually speak fluently and confidently? Whether you’re working with school students, working professionals, or homemakers, structuring the right topics makes all the difference.
👉 If you’re located in Delhi and want a structured course to improve your speaking skills, explore our english speaking course in dwarka designed for every level—from beginner to fluent speaker.
In this article, we’ll break down a complete module-based spoken English curriculum, with strategies backed by global teaching platforms like British Council, BridgeTEFL, and practical teaching experience from India’s top educators.
Core Pillars of Spoken English Syllabus
To build a confident speaker, your spoken English curriculum should be a mix of the following:
1. Daily Use Vocabulary
- Common phrases used at home, office, market, and phone
- Action verbs, connectors, phrasal verbs
- Indian-English errors to avoid
- 10 words/day practice rule (write-speak-repeat method)
📊 Stat: As per a 2024 Cambridge study, knowing just 2000 common words covers 90% of daily conversations.
2. Essential Grammar for Speaking
- Tenses (with special focus on past, present perfect & future)
- Modal verbs (can, could, should)
- Prepositions in daily use
- Articles, conjunctions, sentence structure
🧠 Tip: Avoid teaching written grammar rules. Use audio-visual scenarios to show how grammar helps express time, intention, and action.
3. Pronunciation & Accent Neutralisation
- Indian learners often struggle with sounds like “v vs w”, “th”, and word stress
- Use IPA basics and repetition drills
- Record & playback voice activities
🎯 Useful Tool: Use apps like ELSA Speak or Orai for AI-based feedback on pronunciation.
Real-Life Conversation Topics
After covering the basics, the real magic begins with conversation-driven learning. Here are 10 speaking themes every trainer should cover:
| Conversation Theme | Examples |
| Self-introduction | Name, family, hometown, hobbies |
| Talking about daily routine | “What do you do after waking up?” |
| Shopping dialogues | Bargaining, asking for discounts |
| Office English | Meetings, emails, phone etiquette |
| Travel conversations | Booking cabs, hotels, airports |
| Food & ordering | At a restaurant, giving feedback |
| Job interviews | Strengths, weaknesses, past roles |
| Giving opinions | “What do you think about smartphones?” |
| Expressing feelings | Happy, tired, confused, nervous |
| Situational roleplays | Doctor-patient, buyer-seller, teacher-student |
💡 Roleplay and peer-to-peer conversations work wonders in boosting confidence.
Fun & Creative Activities for Practice
To ensure spoken English doesn’t feel like a school subject, use engaging activities:
- Story Building: One sentence per student, continue the story
- Picture Description: Great for vocabulary and fluency
- Debates: Start with simple topics like “Online vs Offline Classes”
- Mock Interviews: Prepare for real-life use cases
- One-Minute Speech: Boosts impromptu thinking in English
According to the British Council, learners who practice real-time speech for at least 20 minutes a day improve fluency 3X faster.
Beginner to Advanced Level Roadmap
Here’s a rough roadmap to design your course structure:
| Week | Topics |
| 1-2 | Greetings, introductions, common verbs |
| 3-4 | Tenses, sentence building, question formats |
| 5-6 | Vocabulary building, prepositions, connectors |
| 7-8 | Conversation practice, storytelling |
| 9-10 | Roleplays, real-life scenarios |
| 11-12 | Group discussions, interview practice |
Online Tools & Resources for Trainers
- Preply.com – For one-on-one tutoring tips
- BritishCouncil.org – Teaching resources for kids & adults
- BeAlpha.in – India-based resource with sample curriculums
- Bridge.edu – TEFL & ESL methodology insights
Localising Spoken English for Indian Learners
Indians often face these issues:
- Translating from native language
- Overuse of filler words like “basically”, “actually”
- Underconfidence due to grammar fear
Hence, always include modules on:
- Common Indianisms (e.g., “passing out” vs “graduating”)
- Confidence Building with public speaking
- Cultural Context: Indian festivals, food, and habits in spoken form
Final Tips for Spoken English Teachers
- Use more listening and speaking, less writing
- Focus on correction through encouragement, not interruption
- Track progress weekly with recordings and feedback sessions
- Keep your sessions 30% theory and 70% practical usage
📍 Want to prepare for job interviews or corporate English fluency? Visit thebest coaching centre in dwarka for expert-guided group sessions.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
1. What are the basic topics to teach in spoken English?
Start with self-introduction, common verbs, tenses, and daily conversation topics like shopping, food, and travel.
2. How do I structure a spoken English course for beginners?
Divide it into 3 parts: grammar + vocabulary, real-life conversations, and practical activities like mock interviews and debates.
3. What is the most effective way to teach spoken English?
Interactive methods like roleplays, audio-visuals, group discussions, and one-on-one speaking practice work best.
4. Can I teach spoken English without a TEFL certificate?
Yes, especially in India. If you’re fluent and experienced, you can teach effectively. However, certification helps for global teaching jobs.
5. What’s the duration of a good spoken English course?
A basic-to-intermediate course can range from 8 to 12 weeks with 3 classes/week for consistent improvement.
