Questions and answers
We use the Callan Method. The lessons are based on spoken question and answer work. Each question and answer practices a particular word, expression or grammatical item. The role of the teacher is to introduce and explain this new vocabulary and grammar by mime, action and the words the student already knows and then show the students how it is used in spoken English. Callan lessons are highly focused; the student needs to concentrate at all times while listening to the teacher and other students and speaking a lot.
Speed and urgency
Speed is important in the classroom. The teacher speaks to the student at about 240 words per minute. There is no time for the student to translate the new words and sentences into their own language. It also exposes them to the speed of the natural native speech. The atmosphere is busy and demanding. The teacher keeps the lesson moving along with urgency so that the student learns to understand English in its natural speed.
Constant correction
At lots of schools students are not corrected at the moment of speaking. With the Callan Method all errors are corrected immediately rather than with delayed feedback. The student must repeat the correct form before continuing with their sentence. This prevents students from picking up bad habits in pronunciation, which then would be very difficult to get rid of.
Not just conversation
Because the Callan Method teaches English through a process of quick-fire questions and answers it might give the student the impression that it just teaches conversation and not the other aspects of the language. This is totally untrue. The method teaches the students all the grammar and how to write to the level of the Cambridge First Certificate through conversation, reading and dictation.
1000 basic words
Book One of the Method contains 1000 of the most commonly used words in English, words like-the, come, go, black, high, quick. These words are used many times each day. 90% of any page of English is composed of these 1000 basic words found in Book One.
No Homework
With the Callan Method there is little or no homework. With other methods the student has to do at least 15 minutes of homework for each hour spent in the classroom, thus adding 25% to his studying time. At Express English all your work is done in the school.
Suitable for all
The Callan Method is suitable for students of all ages and nationalities.
Easy, interesting and pleasant
Students find the Callan Method easy, interesting and pleasant. This helps to learn in a quarter of the normal time.