Adults often spend over half the workday on "busywork" plus hours each week on email: long study sessions aren’t realistic. But busy schedules don’t have to stop your progress in English. The solution is short, consistent, contextual speaking practice with fast feedback. With the right system, 10–20 minutes a day is enough to build confidence, fluency and clearer pronunciation. This learner-friendly guide shares a step-by-step, time-efficient approach grounded in microlearning and real-life conversation.

Core principle:

Consistent speaking practice improves fluency and pronunciation more than an occasional long study session does, especially when the speaking practice mirrors real situations such as ordering food, joining meetings or interviewing.

What does this look like in practice?

• Predictable routines: Same time, short sessions.
• Real-life contexts: Work, travel, daily interactions.
• Quick feedback loops: Record → adjust → repeat.

Use microlearning to turbocharge your sessions: essentially, focus on one skill only for each session, and keep it under 20 minutes. These powerful, focused and – crucially – short sessions fit rest periods and commutes, making daily practice easier to repeat and track. With exercises like quick role-plays, mini-dialogues and brief listening-then-speaking bursts, practice can be fun and energizing too. Follow our five practice tips and make learning work for your lifestyle.

Teaching large language classes can feel overwhelming, but research and practice consistently show that scale is a design challenge, not an impossible challenge. With intentional course structure, active learning routines and the right technology, instructors can create engaging, rigorous and humane learning environments even in high-enrolment contexts. The strategies below focus on what works at scale.

Challenges of large language classes

A “large class” has no universal definition. In the UK it may begin around 25–30 students; in the U.S., 35+; in many developing contexts, 60 or more. Regardless of the threshold, size amplifies common teaching challenges:

No two teenagers are exactly alike. In every secondary classroom, you'll find a wide range of English proficiency levels, learning styles, motivation and personalities. This diversity brings both challenges and opportunities, especially when teaching mixed-ability classes. By adapting your teaching strategies, you can ensure that all students experience success and remain engaged in their language learning journey.

Here are five practical strategies for teaching mixed-ability secondary students.