This is a new course and the format may be adapted to suit the needs of enrolled students. The objective is to increase fluency, widen vocabulary and use of idioms, reduce grammar errors and improve pronunciation when speaking English. We will use a mix of activities during each class, including discussion of materials read or listened to in advance of the class. (Preparation should not take more than 1 hour each week). Materials used will include modern or classic English or American short stories, and I am proposing to start with ‘The Pearl’ by John Steinbeck. We may also listen to podcasts available on the BBC Sounds app. Grammar will be addressed through practical exercises rather than theory. These will depend on the needs of enrolled students but could include how to answer closed questions in the affirmative and negative, phrasal verbs and modal verbs.