Syllabus and Content

Unit 1 – Talking about yourself
● The language needed to talk about yourself
● Where you are from and what you do
● Where you work or study
Unit 2 – Talking about family
● The language needed to discuss information about family members
● Vocabulary for the names of family members
● How to give opinions about family members
Unit 3 – Talking about times and dates
● The language needed to talk about times and dates
● Vocabulary to explain times and dates
● Vocabulary to talk about days and dates of events
Unit 4 – Talking about daily life
● The language needed to discuss daily life
● Verbs for describing daily life activities
● Time-sequence words and phrases
Unit 5 – Talking about likes and dislikes
● The language needed to discuss likes and dislikes
● How to say how much you like or dislike something
● Important everyday words to describe things
Review 1
● Review of Units 1 – 5
● Review 1 – Game
Unit 6 – Describing people
● The language needed to describe people
● How to explain the way a person looks
● How to talk about a person’s personality and character
Unit 7 – Describing locations and giving directions
● The language needed to explain where things are
● How to describe locations
● How to ask for and give directions
Unit 8 – Talking about other countries
● The language needed to ask people about their countries
● The English names of countries and cities
● The English names of areas of the world
Unit 9 – Talking about the future
● The language needed to talk about events in the future
● How to talk about plans and hopes for the future
● How to talk about what you think will happen in the future
Unit 10 – Talking about the past
● To use the simple past tense
● To talk about an experience
● To tell a story from the past
Review 2
● Review of Units 6 – 12
● Review 2 – Game
Appendices
● Part 1 – Exercise 4 – Student B pages
● Transcripts for Part 1 Exercise 3
● Transcripts for Part 2 Exercise 2 / 3 / 4
● Transcripts for Part 2 Exercise 5
Quick Links
main features aims and components syllabus and content unit structure sample material authors
Image from unit 5 video, part 1
Main Features at a Glance:
● Integrated package: textboook, 2 DVDs (or CDs) & self-study web site
● Designed for false beginner level
● Designed to fit into the 30-week academic year
● Plausible situations & practical communication focus
● Wide variety of character nationalities and accents
● 20 video clips, 30 audio-based activities & 10 interactive quizzes on 2 DVDs
● DVD subtitles, individual character's audio and video switchable on or off
● Additional audio material online
● At least 7 interactive activities per unit on the web site
● Full & free online support
● Student online activities can be tracked fully by the teacher
● Audio & video clips downloadable to mp3 players and mobile phones
● Pronunciation/intonation drills for conversations
● Fun quizzes that simultaneously test and entertain
● Auto-marking online tests and downloadable paper tests on the web site
Aims and Components

The English Course is an integrated lower intermediate English language course for students from false beginner to lower intermediate levels. Speaking Starter is an integrated English language course for false beginners. Speaking Starter is principally intended for young adult learners at college or university level. The aim of the course is to balance the communicative-based approach to language learning with cutting-edge technology, for both classroom use and student self-access study. The units in the textbook are designed to cover appropriate and necessary vocabulary and structures for this level. Each unit in the course includes the following: 2 video clips for listening comprehension, the demonstration of appropriate conversational settings and language use; numerous student speaking and listening opportunities; and 7 online revision/practice exercises on the student self-access web site, plus additional audio material for students to use.
dvd images
study centre image
Image from unit 6 video, part 2
Image from unit 7 video, part 2
Image from unit 10 video, part 2
Unit Structure

The graphic below shows the structure of each unit in this title. (Click to enlarge.)
Authors and Credits

This section gives information about the authors and cast/crew credits.
graphic showing the unit structure of Speaking Starter Click to enlarge the unit structure chart
Sample Material

Click on the images below to see sample material from unit 1 of the textbook ('Talking about yourself') and accompanying video material.
Sample video clip from unit 1 Click here to play a video clip from the DVDs
Click here to view content from the book
DVD video material
Textbook material
Study Centre book image Click here to view images from The Study Centre
Web site material
Gary Ireland (Author)

Gary Ireland image

Gary Ireland first came to Japan in 1986 and since then has taught students of every age and level in a variety of additional teaching positions, including a preparatory school, culture centre, vocational school and several business English centres. Gary began teaching in college and university in 1993 and has taught at six Tokyo colleges and universities since. After graduating from university and before settling in Japan, Gary spent several years travelling around the world, and has continued to travel as often as possible since being based in Japan. In total, he has travelled in over 50 different countries throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central America.
Mick Short (Author)

Mick Short image

Mick Short is from Derby in the U.K. He came to Japan in 1984 to work in a small English language school in Shibuya teaching English. Shortly after that he started working as an Industrial Designer for Seiko Epson and Ricoh. From 1994-95, Mick worked in Eigomedia (now eigoTown) as Art Director and Interface Designer, designing English language learning CD-Rom publications. Mick set up Mindstorm, a company that develops products, including those for The English Company. At various times in Japan, Mick has taught both English and Art and Design. He is currently Adjunct Professor of Art at Lakeland College.
Max Woollerton (Author)

Max Woollerton image

Max Woollerton came to Japan in 1987 and began teaching English at a private language school before moving on to a vocational college, a preparatory school, a public high school and a school for overseas returnees. Max has taught in numerous other educational settings and his students have included people from all walks of life. Max began teaching in universities in 1999 and has taught at eight Tokyo universities. Max Woollerton is a Master of Education graduate of the University of Manchester's Education Technology and ELT programme. He is committed to the development of the use of technology in a practical and useful way within the Japanese EFL classroom. He hopes that The English Course will, as it develops, come to embody all of the positive aspects of using technology to learn a language. Max is also particularly interested in learner motivation and how to encourage it's development.

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