Cambridge EMPOWER 2nd Edition 
STARTER A1 ENGLISH COURSE

Are you ready to begin your journey to speaking English with confidence?

Key Benefits of the Cambridge EMPOWER A1 Starter English Course:

Perfect for absolute beginners or those looking to refresh their English basics.

Simple, practical lessons that focus on real-world communication skills.

Build confidence in speaking and understanding basic English phrases.

Master the essentials of daily English conversations, from introductions to everyday topics.

The LinguaSkill test is not required for A1 & A2 Cambridge-aligned English courses delivered by Virtual English.

Cambridge does not deliver or assess this course. Course completion outcomes are issued by Virtual English. 

A1 Starter English Course (Online)

This A1 Starter English course is designed for adult learners who are beginning their English learning journey or returning to English after a long break.

It focuses on building confidence and practical communication skills for everyday situations such as work, study, and daily life.

Who this course is for?

This course is suitable for adult learners who: 

  • Have little or no previous experience learning English 

  • Can recognise a few basic words or phrases but find communication difficult 

  • Want to improve everyday English for work, study, or daily life 

  • Need a clear and supportive starting point before progressing to higher levels 

  • Prefer structured online learning with teacher guidance 

If you are unsure whether A1 is the right starting point, our English Level Guide explains each level clearly.

Skills learners will work on 

At A1 level, learners develop the foundations of English across all four skills. 

Speaking Practice 

  • Introduce yourself and others. 

  • Describe your hobbies, routines, and plans. 

  • Ask and answer questions about daily life. 

  • Have simple conversations at work, school, or while traveling. 

Reading

  • Recognising common words and everyday phrases 

  • Reading short texts such as messages, forms, signs, and emails 

  • Understanding basic meaning rather than reading speed 

Writing

  • Writing simple sentences and short messages 

  • Completing basic forms 

  • Using correct word order and basic punctuation 

Language foundations

  • Alphabet and pronunciation basics 

  • Numbers, dates, and time 

  • Present simple verbs 

  • Common vocabulary for daily situations 

Study Expectations (hours per week)

To make steady progress at A1 level, learners should expect: 

Around 5–7 hours of study per week 

A mix of live online lessons, guided practice, and independent study 

Regular revision and practice between lessons 

Active participation in speaking and listening activities 

At this level, consistency is more important than speed. 

Online Delivery Format

This course is delivered 100% online, making it suitable for adult learners studying from anywhere. 
  • Live online classes with a qualified English teacher 

  • Structured weekly lessons with clear learning goals 

  • Guided practice and feedback 

  • Access to learning materials between classes 

You can read more about how our online English courses are structured and delivered

Learning Platform (Cambridge One)

Learners access their course materials through Cambridge One, an interactive online learning platform used by education providers worldwide.

The platform allows learners to: 
  • Access digital course materials

  • Practise reading, writing, listening, and vocabulary 

  • Track progress over time 

  • Study independently between live lessons

No advanced technical skills are required. Cambridge One supports structured practice between live classes. 

Continuing your learning journey 

After completing A1, many learners choose to continue building their English skills at the next level. 

Progressing to A2 Elementary English allows learners to expand vocabulary, improve sentence structure, and communicate more confidently in everyday situations.

NEXT STEPS

If you would like personalised advice before joining the waitlist, you can book a free consultation.

Course Summary



A1 & A2 8-week Courses

2026 Term 1 Online
📅 KEY DATES
APPLICATIONS CLOSE

Friday, 2 January 2026

CENSUS DATE

Friday, 9 January 2026

Last date to drop a course without financial penalty

ORIENTATION COMMENSES

Monday, 12 January 2026

COURSE START DATE

Monday, 2 February 2026

COURSE END DATE

Thursday, 26 March 2026

📌 TIMETABLE OPTIONS

9:00 am - 1:00 pm UTC+10

(Brisbane, Australia) Mon, Tue & Thu

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm UTC+10

(Brisbane, Australia) Mon, Tue & Thu

💲 EASY PAYMENT PLANS
One-Time Payment

$997 USD

Monthly Payment Plan

$87.25 USD

12 payments

Flexible Repayment Options

Stripe supports various BNPL providers such as the following. These services have multiple repayment structures, including interest-free instalments.

Affirm Afterpay/Clearpay Klarna Zip

What is the A1 Starter course? 

The A1 Starter course is for beginners who know only a few words or phrases in English. This course is delivered by Virtual English using Cambridge EMPOWER curriculum and the Cambridge One digital learning platform. It supports learners working towards CEFR level A1–C1. 
In this course, you will learn how to communicate about simple topics, such as greetings, introducing yourself, ordering food, and asking for directions.
By the end of the course, you'll be able to speak, read, write, and understand English in simple, everyday contexts. 

Why Choose the A1 Starter English Course? 

This course is for people who are just starting their English learning journey and want to build their confidence in basic communication. By joining, you will: 
  • Learn key vocabulary for daily conversations. 

  • Understand simple grammar rules to make your communication clearer. 

  • Practice using basic sentences and questions in real-life situations. 

  • Monthly payment options available to make learning more accessible.

  • LinguaSkill test not required for A1 & A2 courses. 

Virtual English delivers its own online English courses using Cambridge EMPOWER coursebooks and the Cambridge One digital learning platform. Cambridge does not deliver or assess these courses.

🎓 Miran (Korea)

Karen, I have been afraid of English before I met you. Your soft smile and voice taught me to understand pronunciation and grammar easily. You always encourage me that 'You can do it'. Because of your high standard in teaching, I was led to study English naturally. I will never forget your influence in my studying English.

🎓 Pei (China)

Karen is very nice, friendly and humorous. In my classes she always smiles and is amiable. She often inspires us to study and work hard at learning English for ourselves.
Her teaching method is very good. She encourages students from diverse backgrounds to think about and use different ways to learn English. I have learned the most from my voice, listening, writing and grammar than in any other class. She not only taught me how to talk properly and write well, but also taught me how to live better.

🎓 Maryam (Iran)

I have learned more grammar in Karen's class. She motivated and guided me with her kindness. I will always remember her because of her kind face and the things I learned from her. I like her personality very much because she is kind and friendly, and she motivates us to be better. Thank you for your efforts. I wish you more success.

What Will You Learn?

In the A1 Starter Course, you will improve your skills in speaking, reading, writing, and
listening. You’ll cover useful topics and situations you can use in real life. 

Speaking Practice 

  • Introduce yourself and others. 

  • Describe your hobbies, routines, and plans. 

  • Ask and answer questions about daily life. 

  • Have simple conversations at work, school, or while traveling. 

Reading Skills

  • Read short stories, emails, and articles. 

  • Understand simple instructions and directions. 

  • Get the main idea of short texts. 

Writing Basics

  • Write short emails and messages. 

  • Create simple sentences to describe your experiences. 

  • Use basic grammar like past and present tenses. 

Listening Activities

  • Understand short conversations. 

  • Follow simple questions and answers. 

  • Listen to audio about daily activities and routines. 

Course Features That Make Learning Easy

We know learning a language can be challenging. That’s why our course focuses on features
that make your learning experience smooth and effective: 

👨‍🏫 Interactive Lessons 

Each lesson is designed to help you practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing using real-life situations. Fun exercises, role-plays, and dialogues make learning enjoyable. 

📅 Flexible Learning 

Learn at your own pace. Our online platform allows you to access recorded lessons anytime, anywhere, making it easier to fit English practice into your busy schedule. 

📝 Clear and Simple Instructions 

Lessons are broken into simple steps, so you always know exactly what to do and how to practice. 

💬 Build Confidence in Speaking 

Through lots of practice, you’ll become more comfortable speaking English in everyday situations. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel! 

 Learn Practical Vocabulary 

You’ll learn words and phrases that are useful for everyday life. Whether you’re talking to a friend, ordering food, or asking for directions, you’ll be ready. 

Ready to start your English learning journey? Our A1 Starter Course is the best place to begin.

Join today and build your English skills from the ground up. 

Note: 8-week course

FREE English Irregular Verbs pdf

This is one of the best Elementary resources for improving your English grammar

FREE English Irregular Verbs pdf

This is one of the best Elementary resources for improving your English grammar

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