The course consists of 2 hours of English per week, with sessions designed to provide balanced practice across the different skills and regular contact with English throughout the week.

We work with small groups of no more than 8 students, allowing for active participation and close monitoring of each student’s progress.

Homework is a regular part of the course and will be set weekly to consolidate work done in class, increase students’ contact with English outside the classroom and progressively develop independence and good study habits.

Our approach is communicative, practical and participative. As students progress, we place increasing importance on their ability to use English actively, rather than simply recognise vocabulary or apply grammar rules.

English will be the main language of communication in the classroom, and students will be encouraged to use it both with the teacher and with each other. Speaking activities will play an important role in developing fluency, confidence and the ability to respond in real communication situations.

Grammar and vocabulary are taught in meaningful contexts and combined with listening, reading and writing so that students learn to use what they study in a practical way.

At this level, we also begin to encourage greater independence and accuracy, helping students to recognise errors, extend their answers, express ideas in more detail and use different strategies when they do not know a particular word or structure.

The course develops grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading and writing in an integrated way, starting from approximately A2 and progressing towards A2+.

Grammar and structures

Students will consolidate and extend structures such as the present simple and continuous, past simple and continuous, future forms, comparatives and superlatives, quantifiers and modal verbs. They will also work on the present perfect, first conditional, infinitives and gerunds, simple relative clauses and a wider range of linking words.

Vocabulary

Students will expand their vocabulary related to school and studies, relationships, free time, sport, travel, food, health, shopping, home, technology, media, transport and the environment. They will also be introduced to collocations, basic phrasal verbs, common expressions and word formation.

Speaking and communication

Students will learn to participate more confidently in conversations about familiar topics, talk about experiences and plans, describe and compare, express preferences, give simple opinions and reasons, make suggestions and gradually extend their answers. We will encourage an increasingly spontaneous use of English.

Listening and Reading

Students will work with increasingly varied and extended audio and written texts, developing strategies to understand the main idea, identify specific information and relevant details, and work out meaning from context.

Writing

Writing will be developed in a progressive and practical way, mainly through sentences and short texts related to the course content. Attention will be given to accurate structures, appropriate vocabulary, basic linking words and clear organisation, without extended writing being a major focus at this stage.

The aim is for students to develop the language and communication skills needed to achieve a solid A2+ level and be ready to continue progressing towards B1 level.

Is any previous knowledge of English required?

Yes. This course is designed for students starting from approximately A2 level who want to consolidate their knowledge and progress towards A2+. Before joining a group, each student’s current level and previous experience will be taken into account to determine whether the course is suitable.

How are groups organised by age and level?

Groups are organised primarily according to English level, as this is the key factor in ensuring appropriate progression. Get Up to Speed is designed primarily for students in 1st and 2nd year of ESO.

We also take age and school year into account and, wherever possible, aim not to mix students from more than two consecutive school years. If an older student needs to work at this level, we will try to offer or create an equivalent group with students of a similar age, provided there is sufficient demand.

Will there be homework?

Yes. Homework is an important part of the course and will be set weekly to consolidate work done in class, reinforce areas that require additional practice and encourage greater independence and good study habits.

What happens if a student misses a class?

If a student is unable to attend a class, we will provide the information and/or materials needed to catch up, whenever possible. As these are group classes, sessions missed due to a student’s absence cannot be made up individually and are not deducted from the course fees.

Our fees are calculated on the basis of an average of 35 teaching weeks per academic year. The exact number of sessions may vary slightly depending on the day of the week and the academic calendar, and some groups may have an additional session. These small variations are already taken into account in the course fees.

What happens if Eureka has to cancel a class?

If Eureka has to cancel a class and we are unable to provide a substitute teacher, we will offer a make-up session. If it is not possible to reschedule the class, the corresponding amount will be deducted from the next payment, whether monthly or termly.

What level are students expected to reach by the end of the course?

The aim is for students to reach approximately A2+ level, developing greater confidence and independence in using English and expanding the language resources needed to continue progressing towards B1 level.

Are the classes entirely in English?

English will be the main language of communication in the classroom, and students will be encouraged to use it both with the teacher and with each other. Other languages may occasionally be used when necessary to clarify specific concepts or support understanding, but one of the aims of the course is to progressively increase students’ spontaneous use of English.

Are any discounts available?

Yes. We offer Friends & Family discounts and discounts for families affected by unemployment. Full details and applicable conditions can be found in the Discounts section of this page.

Friends & Family

10% discount for each new student, plus an additional 5% for each additional student, applicable for one term.

Families affected by unemployment

15% discount on course fees for one student per family throughout the academic year. Supporting documentation will be required.

Discount conditions

Discounts cannot be combined. Where more than one discount could apply, the most favourable discount will be applied.

For particularly small groups of 2 or 3 students, discounts will be subject to the viability of the group and Eureka reserves the right not to apply them.

Discounts apply to course fees and not to registration fees or other additional charges, unless expressly stated otherwise.