Most students want a grammatical explanation for their language learning. Additionally, most students want to practice their conversation and listening as much as possible, as for many, this is the most challenging part of learning a language. This course gives you just that, a combined Grammar & Idioms + Conversation & Listening course. A grammar point is presented, and concurrently reinforced, by extensive conversation and listening practice (and pronunciation corrections). We believe that this is the most effective - and best - way to learn a language (other than coming to Boston to study at NESE, Harvard Square, of course!).

This is a 10-level course, but you can take as few - or as many - of the levels as you wish. Certificates are awarded at the end of each level.

The NESE On-Line curriculum is directly based on the award-winning NESE, Harvard Square curriculum, and replicates NESE’s effective spiral curriculum design, which links the three main skill sets: Grammar & Idioms, Conversation & Listening, and Reading & Writing. In the beginner levels, students learn and practice basic language skills. In the intermediate levels, these skills are reviewed, reinforced, and further developed as students build on what they have learned. As students progress through the higher levels, they again develop new linguistic skills and structures, while at the same time, via the NESE On-Line spiral curriculum, continue to reinforce and refine the basic forms, and learn how to use them in increasingly sophisticated ways. 

In sum, the NESE On-Line spiral-designed curriculum supports natural language learning because it continuously reinforces and advances the language that students can already produce and comprehend. You will greatly benefit from this approach as you work through all levels of the NESE On-Line curriculum.

At the lower levels of this course, you will learn to use the "simple tenses" of the most common and important verbs that are needed for basic conversation. You will also learn and practice irregular forms of important verbs such as to be, to do, to have, and to make. You will also use regular verbs to describe yourself, your background, and your every day life in both present and past tenses. You will soon be using everyday vocabulary to ask questions and learn more about other people and your online classmates. You will consistently receive level-appropriate corrections so that you can speak more confidently and use your language in situations beyond your NESE On-Line classroom.

At the intermediate levels, you will practice using increasingly complex verb patterns when you speak about your own life, as well as when you respond to questions and comments from peers. In these levels, you will become more comfortable producing language structures that may include more than one auxiliary verb and/or prepositional phrases. Further, you will find changing tenses and levels of formality easier. At the lower levels, you could only understand your teacher - and perhaps some of your classmates, but now, more and more, you are gaining the accuracy, fluency, and comprehension skills to understand people in real life situations.

At the higher levels, you will gain a solid understanding of grammar and the ability to use your language skills to express increasingly abstract ideas. When you stumble, it is likely to be on more subtle grammar and stylistic points. At this stage of your English language learning, you will focus on the most advanced grammar forms, idioms and language structures you have already learned. At the same time, you will review some basics (prepositions, articles and subject-verb agreement) however, now, you will do so through a more sophisticated lens. The conversation and listening part of this course delves into the differences between and complexities of both casual and formal English. Your teacher will continue to correct your mistakes, not only in grammar, but also in pronunciation or word choice, and you will also be given opportunities to speak spontaneously and follow the tangents of new conversations wherever they go.

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