What if a classroom became a place where children could share stories, ask questions, express opinions and discover the power of their own words?
For many children, learning English is not just about understanding a new language; it is about finding opportunities to use it. A conversation with a friend, reading aloud in class or confidently answering a question can turn a small learning moment into a meaningful achievement.
With this in mind, Sampoorna Shiksha – Gyaandaan Foundation has launched the English Express Programme under Project Shiksha Vikas at Awami High School, Govandi, Mumbai, reaching 590 students with the support of eight facilitators.
English That Goes Beyond the Classroom
A language becomes meaningful when children can use it in their everyday lives. English Express aims to make this possible by helping students develop essential language skills through regular practice and engaging activities.
The programme focuses on:
- Listening and understanding: Following instructions, understanding conversations and responding appropriately.
- Speaking with confidence: Practising everyday conversations, introductions and expressing personal opinions.
- Reading and comprehension: Building reading fluency and understanding the meaning behind words and sentences.
- Vocabulary development: Discovering new words and learning how to use them in different contexts.
- Grammar and sentence formation: Understanding language structures and using them to communicate clearly.
- Pronunciation and fluency: Developing clearer speech and greater comfort while speaking English.
- Creative communication: Exploring storytelling, role-play, discussions and other activities that encourage self-expression.
The goal is to help children move beyond memorising words and rules towards using English to communicate ideas, understand others and participate more actively in their learning.
One Programme, Different Learning Journeys
A child learning to form their first English sentences has different needs from a student preparing to express a more detailed opinion. Recognising these differences is an important part of language education.
The programme covers 10 Grade Groups across Primary Grades 1–4 (Sections A and B for each grade) and Secondary Grades 7–8
- Grades 1–4: Sections A and B across each grade.
- Grades 7–8: Secondary-level students.
This reach brings together learners at different stages of their educational journey. Learning activities can be adapted to their age, existing language skills and learning needs, allowing students to work towards appropriate goals.
When English Meets Everyday Experiences
A festival, a familiar story or an important day can become the starting point for a lively English lesson.
Theme-based activities create opportunities for students to learn vocabulary connected to their surroundings, describe experiences, narrate stories, participate in discussions and express their ideas. Role-play, quizzes, picture descriptions and short presentations can turn familiar subjects into practical language exercises.
These activities help connect English with the world children experience outside their textbooks, giving them meaningful reasons to listen, think, speak and write.
Looking at Learning Beyond the Classroom
Progress in language learning does not always happen all at once. Sometimes it begins with understanding a new word; sometimes, it means speaking a complete sentence or reading a passage with greater ease.
To understand these changes, the English Express Programme incorporates pre-assessments, mid-assessments and post-assessments.
The pre-assessment helps establish students’ starting levels. The mid-assessment provides an opportunity to review progress and identify areas requiring further support. The post-assessment helps evaluate learning by comparing students’ performance with their initial levels.
Together, these assessments help facilitators understand students’ needs, plan suitable learning activities and identify areas of improvement over the course of the programme.
590 Students, More Opportunities to Express
With eight facilitators supporting the initiative, English Express at Awami High School represents an opportunity to make language learning more engaging and accessible for students across primary and secondary grades..
The real milestone is not just learning a new word. It is finding the confidence to use it – And that is where every new conversation begins.
