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Basic English 1: Elementary

Learn basic English for everyday situations and improve your listening skills with this online English language course.

909,080 enrolled on this course

Basic English 1: Elementary

909,080 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn everyday English for work or studying

Have you always wanted to learn English, or need to know the language for your work or studies?

This free online 4-week course will help you learn basic English skills. It will give you confidence in everyday situations and help you improve your listening skills.

After taking this course you can progress to Basic English: Pre-Intermediate.

Improve your English vocabulary

At the beginning of the course, you’ll learn what to say when you meet new people, learn to introduce yourself, and practice joining in with conversations. You’ll work on your speaking, reading, and listening skills.

By using your computer or smartphone, you’ll be able to hear people talking in English in a number of different situations and test your understanding with quizzes.

Learn basic English grammar and common English phrases

By the end of the course, you’ll be comfortable with asking simple questions, talking about friends and family, and discussing work and hobbies.

Learn to express your likes and dislikes, chat about hobbies such as music and sport, and read emails from a new pen pal. All of these activities will improve your confidence in elementary English.

You’ll have a good understanding of basic grammar including subject pronouns, different tenses, and the verb ‘to be’. Your pronunciation skills will also be put to the test.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 20 seconds Hello and welcome to this English language MOOC developed for elementary learners by King’s College London. In this MOOC you will learn language for everyday situations. You’ll become more confident in understanding and talking in English. Each week you will listen, read and write answers, fill in the gap, click a button, or listen and repeat what you hear. You can also reply to each other in the comments section. This course will help you use English in everyday situations and help you practice what you have learned. You will hear people describing each other’s personalities, their jobs, where they live, what they do in their spare time, and how they are feeling. Some of the people you will meet are at university.

Skip to 1 minute and 13 seconds Others are working.

What topics will you cover?

  • Language to introduce yourself
  • Describing how you are feeling
  • Asking simple questions
  • Talking about your friends and family, and describing their personalities
  • Talking about work and jobs
  • Saying what you do and don’t like
  • Talking about your hobbies

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Identify language used in everyday situations, such as studying, communicating with classmates, and talking about work
  • Develop confidence in key language items useful in a range of different scenarios
  • Apply language skills for everyday conversations
  • Demonstrate understanding of relevant language that can help the learner progress along the path to studying at a university

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for refugees, displaced people and the communities supporting them in the MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa) region who want to learn English for studying and for work. It has been created as part of the PADILEIA project.

However, it will also be of interest to anyone looking to develop their skills in basic English.

We recommend learners have a minimum of CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) A1 to get the most from this course.

Supported by UK aid - Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education, Innovation and Reform

Who will you learn with?

Jessica is the Post Graduate and Executive Education Coordinator at The English Language Centre, KCL and has taught EFL and EAP in Holland, Portugal and the UK.

I am the Instructional Designer for the PADILEIA MOOCs at King's Online, King's College London. I am also a language teacher and have taught both English and Spanish in Europe and Asia.

Who developed the course?

King's College London

King’s College London, established in 1829 and a founding college of the University of London, is one of the world’s leading research and teaching universities, based in the very heart of London.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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