Although we currently have more than 200 courses and can also tailor content to suit, below is an overview of our most common programmes. Feel free to click on the picture or title, for more detailed information.
As you are aware, the government is now strongly supporting those courses with an oral aspect to them as seen by the new 25% weighting for the Oral Exam and the 1128 Paper 4 Oral Exam. Given this we now offer 200 different oral communication based programmes, which deal with a variety of areas. In addition to what is listed below, we are also able to customise any version of our courses to suit your specific needs. Many of our courses are also suitable as part of a progressive Oral Communication syllabus in your school, spanning multiple levels. In addition, given the nature of the material, these courses are often conducted during curriculum time and with assessments (speech, debate, recital, drama / skit, news reading etc.), also used as part of a school’s overall oral component mark / report card / SA2.
Words of Wisdom – A-Star’s Oral Confidence and Public Speaking Course, was our pioneer course and is still immensely popular. It teaches students the elements present in every successful public-speaking occasion where Oral Communication and Presentation Skills are crucial. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will make a speech with individual graded assessment and feedback, for all participants. Successive sessions are designed to increase their confidence when addressing an audience, with strategies to overcome nervousness, correct speech structure, voice projection, confident body language, etiquette, pronunciation and appropriate register. Best of all, it’s great fun!
This is an intensive course designed to enable students to excel in school and beyond. The Art of Persuasion and Argument provides complete tuition and practice in all elements of argumentative based speech, including the common fallacies of argument, combined with interactive individual and group-based oral activities. Most importantly, this course deals with the art of persuasion, logic, opinion and evidence through relevant and thought provoking material . Students are led towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will present a persuasive-based speech, with individual assessment rubrics for all participants.
Words of Wisdom (Debate) teaches students the elements present in every successful public-speaking and debating occasion. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will present an argumentative point of view and participate in a mock court-room debate, with individual / group feedback for all participants. The successive sessions are designed to increase students’ understanding of both the structure and art of debating, including crucial oral confidence skills needed when addressing an audience. Students learn strategies to overcome nervousness, structure, projection, fallacies of arguments, rebuttal skills, etiquette and appropriate register. With knowledge of both Julia Gabriel and the World Debating series, this course is also useful for schools thinking about setting up a debating club, or enhancing an existing one.
This course was put together by popular demand and is designed to address two crucial areas, namely Voice Mechanics (Phonology) and Speech / Drama. As such it is a combination of our Sounds of English and Speak Up Act Out Courses.
The Sounds of English: For many students the mechanics of speech and overall articulation remain major hurdles. However with with a few simple strategies, knowledge of phonology and practice, it can become one of their great strengths. The Sounds of English is a great way to introduce pupils to the physical properties of sounds (phonetics). All the key techniques for success with speech, clarity, accuracy and pronunciation are all dealt with in a compact format. This course is highly interactive and comes complete with a plethora of activities and reference material. Each student will recite a passage and will be individually assessed based on a number of rubrics.
Speak Up Act Out (Drama): Written by a resident expert who has acted extensively throughout Singapore and abroad, this course was designed as an introduction to drama. Areas of focus include the building of confidence, voice skills, stage movement, script writing and a final performance. For budding drama enthusiasts, this course offers hands-on activities for those seeking greater personal confidence, personal leadership, theatrical or debating roles within the school. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will perform a final group skit, with group feedback for all participants. Best of all, it’s great fun!
This is another course that was put together by demand and is also designed to address two crucial areas, namely Public Speaking (Oral Confidence) and Speech / Drama. As such it is a combination of our standard Words of Wisdom and Speak Up Act Out Courses.
Words of Wisdom – A-Star’s Oral Confidence and Public Speaking Course, was our pioneer course and is still immensely popular. It teaches students the elements present in every successful public-speaking occasion where Oral Communication and Presentation Skills are crucial. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will make a speech with individual graded assessment and feedback, for all participants. Successive sessions are designed to increase their confidence when addressing an audience, with strategies to overcome nervousness, correct speech structure, voice projection, confident body language, etiquette, pronunciation and appropriate register. Best of all, it’s great fun!
Speak Up Act Out (Drama): Written by a resident expert who has acted extensively throughout Singapore and abroad, this course was designed as an introduction to drama. Areas of focus include the building of confidence, voice skills, stage movement, script writing and a final performance. For budding drama enthusiasts, this course offers hands-on activities for those seeking greater personal confidence, personal leadership, theatrical or debating roles within the school. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will perform a final group duologue, with feedback for all participants.
For many students the mechanics of speech and overall articulation remain major hurdles. However with a few simple strategies, knowledge of phonology and practice, it can become one of their great strengths. The Sounds of English is a great way to introduce pupils to phonology and the physical properties of sounds (phonetics). All the key techniques for success with speech and clarity are all dealt with in a compact format. This course is highly interactive and comes complete with a plethora of activities and reference material. Note that both Thinking, Listening, Speaking (Oral Exam Workshop) and Words of Wisdom (Public Speaking / Oral Confidence), are both ideal follow-on courses from The Sounds of English.
Written by a resident expert who has acted extensively throughout Singapore and abroad, this course was designed as an introduction to drama. Areas of focus include the building of confidence, voice skills, stage movement, script writing and a final performance. For budding drama enthusiasts, this course offers hands-on activities for those seeking greater personal confidence, personal leadership, theatrical or debating roles within the school.
This is a basic introductory course for lower secondary pupils, designed to enable students to master crucial oral skills for school and beyond. Words of Wisdom – Conversational Skills provides complete tuition and practice in all elements of conversation, communication and confidence. Naturally in order to engage, this course is combined with interactive individual and group-based Oral activities that pupils will find both enjoyable and interesting. As with all our oral-based courses, students are also led towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will present a brief speech , with individual feedback, encouragement and speech assessment for all participants.
Speaking in public can be daunting. Words of Wisdom (Vocational Skills), addresses these fears by raising self esteem and equipping students with the skills necessary to enter the workforce and to create / deliver a great speech.
Everyone knows that English is crucial to business and work in Singapore. It is also the language that links Singapore to the rest of the globe. This is why it is important that pupils are able to use English well in all of their work experiences – whatever job they may choose. Using English well will also give pupils a better chance to get a good job and will help them to improve the image and service of the company they work for.
All students will also work towards a mock job interview, with individual assessment and feedback for all pupils. This course is ideal for NT pupils and those entering the workforce
Words of Wisdom teaches students the elements present in every successful formal public-speaking occasion be it as a Presenter, Usher, MC or otherwise. Students are led logically towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will learn to craft both an argumentative / persuasive speech and script (with three forms of assessment), plus individual feedback for all participants.
Successive sessions are designed to increase their confidence when addressing an audience with strategies to overcome nervousness, correct speech structure, enhance voice projection and standardise pronunciation. In addition we deal with body language, etiquette, register, language, purpose and audience. To ensure success, voice mechanics such as tone, pitch, modulation etc. are also dealt with in a compact and useful format.
Lastly, this programme culminates in a literature-inspired poetry and music analysis, combined with some choral speaking. Simply a great course for your Debate and Oratorical Society or ELDDS!
This is an introductory course for secondary pupils, designed to enable students to master the important skills of both leadership and MC roles, be it for school or beyond. Words of Wisdom – Introductory MC / Leadership Workshop, provides complete tuition and practice in all elements of introductions, role of the MC and leadership traits (360 degrees). Naturally in order to engage, this course is combined with mock event role plays that pupils will find both enjoyable and interesting. As with all our oral-based courses, students are also led towards a final session in which EVERY student in the class will host an event, with individual feedback, encouragement and MC assessment for all participants.
Broadcast / Photo Journalism / Media Literacy
Created by popular demand and MOE’s desire to address the crucial area of Broadcast Journalism, Beyond Words teaches students practical examples in order to allow pupils to become more familiar with journalism writing, editing and the art of interviews. In addition, sessions are designed to increase their self-confidence in terms the various news gathering processes and overall journalism-based skills. Best of all, it’s great fun!
⇒ Teach the fundamentals of broadcast journalism (written / spoken) – revising, editing, word choice.
⇒ Introduction of interviews and the various techniques necessary in order to conduct one successfully.
⇒ Give practice designed to increase the theory and knowledge of news and news gathering processes
⇒ To increase one’s overall self-worth and confidence, including that of non-verbal communication.
⇒ To produce an appropriate newsletter
Poetry Makes Sense -Read, Enjoy, Understand & Create Verse
This fun-based, hands-on course breaks down the myths surrounding poetry’s inaccessibility for students. We use a mix of contemporary song lyrics and classic poetry to hook students’ interest. We teach and apply the key devices used for poetry analysis and show students how to structure written analyses of poems they enjoy. Each student attempts some poetry of their own and presents a response to a poem of choice, receiving individual feedback on their efforts.
Words of Wisdom [Storytelling] teaches students the elements present in every successful Storytelling occasion in an interactive, group-based course. EVERY student in the class will also present a story (during course time). This course is designed to increase their confidence when addressing an audience with strategies to overcome nervousness, correct speech structure, voice projection, confident body language, etiquette and appropriate register. Lastly the aim of the course is to increase self-awareness and overall motivation to speak and achieve. Best of all, it’s great fun!
- Compose Yourself – The A-Star Composition Course [A and C] o Structured Writing Paper One [Section B]
- The Intensive English Program – Paper One [Section A/B/C]
- Reading, Comprehension and More Paper 2 [Section A/B/C]
- One Short Step – N to O Level Bridging Course
- One Short Step – PRC / Foreigners Intensive English Program
- The Intensive English Program
- Mind Your Grammar
- We All Have Tales – The A-Star Creative Writing Course
- The A-Star Grammar and Text Types Course