🌍 English support (EAL) practice guide

Choose your first language in I speak. Select Basic (A1–A2) or Advanced (B1–B2) as a practice setting. Start with Basic if you need shorter, simpler answers. This module supports everyday English; it is not a Leaving Certificate oral mock.

Choose a topic and use Listen to hear the question. Use Translate if you need help understanding it. Give an answer in English, then type or dictate it and select Check my English. Try to say the improved answer without reading.

Use Study Mode to prepare useful language and ideas for a topic. Return to Practice Mode to answer by yourself. Use a hint when you are stuck, then try the same task again without the hint.

Open Real-Life Situations and choose the deli counter, the bus and Leap Card, the Year Head or buying uniform. Select Start Conversation, read or listen to the other speaker and send your reply. Aim to communicate what you need, ask a useful question and respond politely.

“Could you help me, please? I need to buy a school jumper. Do you have this in a medium?” Say the request aloud, then change the item or size. If you do not understand a reply, practise: “Could you say that again, please?”

Add the English keyboard in your device settings. Tap the answer box and use the keyboard microphone to dictate, or type your answer. Set dictation to the language you are speaking and check that the transcript matches your words before submitting. If audio is silent, check the device volume and whether your browser has a suitable language voice. Try another browser or device if needed. The “listen to my answer” control reads the submitted text using a synthetic voice; it does not replay a recording of you.

The AI reviews your submitted text. It cannot reliably assess your pronunciation, pace or live interaction from a transcript. Treat scores as practice estimates. Check suggestions that seem doubtful with your teacher. Choose one useful correction and one phrase, then answer again aloud in your own words.

1. 3 minutes: choose one topic and prepare a few useful words or a structure in Study Mode.
2. 5 minutes: answer aloud, submit your response and read the feedback.
3. 4 minutes: repeat the answer without reading, then practise one more question or task.
4. 3 minutes: note one improvement and one target for next time.

Use a separate session for a mock. Try the same topic on another day to see whether you can answer more independently.