Preparing Learners for GESE

Student with teacher, GESE exam preparation This modular course is a helpful guide for teachers who want to prepare their students for a GESE examination. This can be a daunting task for teachers, as candidates are required to engage in a real conversation (demonstrating genuine communication) using the language and skills of the GESE grade, and cannot rely on reciting memorised phrases or passages of English.

The course provides an easy-to-follow breakdown of the GESE syllabus with an in depth look at the exam format, including videos of sample exams, and the language and communicative skills learners need to demonstrate at each grade up to grade 9. Your course fee will be deducted from the Trinity CertPT: Preparing Learners for GESE course fee if you choose to study with English for Asia.

20 hours (4 x 5-hour modules)
Fully online, self-study
Suitable as a standalone or post-certificate course
Materials developed by trainers with experience delivering support workshops to Trinity GESE exam centres
Typically takes 2 weeks to complete
Accessible for 3 months
From HK$800 (approx. US$102) to HK$1,200 (approx. US$154) – refundable if you join our CertPT course
Start today

The four modules cover

Introduction to GESE
Initial Stage (GESE grades 1-3)
Elementary Stage (GESE grades 4-6)
Intermediate Stage (GESE grades 7-9)

You can opt to study individual relevant modules or take the complete course.

Developed by experienced members of our Trinity GESE professional support team, and containing content adapted from our GESE support workshops.

More about GESE examinations

Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) are internationally recognised tests to assess how well a person can communicate face-to-face in English. They assess English language and communication skills through a live, unscripted, one-to-one conversation with a Trinity examiner.

The exams are available at 12 levels (grades), divided into 4 stages (Initial, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced), and span CEFR levels from Pre-A1 to C2.

Is this the right course for you?

This course is for you if

You are a new or experienced teacher who wants to successfully prepare your learners to enter for a Trinity Graded Examination in Spoken English (GESE).
You need to train and supervise a team of teachers to prepare students for GESE.
You are looking to incorporate GESE preparation content into your English courses or develop a dedicated GESE preparation course for learners.
You are a parent wanting to provide support to your child who is preparing for a Trinity GESE exam.

This course might not be for you if

You only teach general English.
You need an accredited qualification.
You want teaching practice and personalised feedback.

The course offers a valuable extension to the CertTESOL and CELTA for teachers looking to teach or specialise in exam preparation.

Our typical trainees include

New or experienced teachers looking to transition from teaching general English to teaching GESE exam preparation.
Experienced teachers looking for professional development.
Trinity CertTESOL or Cambridge CELTA graduates looking for specialist training in preparing learners for spoken English exams.
Graduates of our 40 and 60 hour TEFL certificates who want more in-depth training in preparing learners for spoken English exams.
Parents looking to help their child improve their spoken English.

Course content and structure

This online self-access course offers practical help for teachers and will

Analyse the communication skills and language required for success in the GESE.
Cover preparation and teaching of preparation classes for GESE grades 1 to 9.
Look separately at the conversation, topic and interactive phases of the GESE exam.
Help you build a bank of valuable ideas, strategies, tools and resources for effectively preparing learners for the GESE.
Suggest resources, activities and techniques that can help learners prepare for the communicative tasks in the GESE examinations.
Look at videos of sample GESE examinations with comments on the candidate's performance, offering a useful way to benchmark your own students' levels.
Consider different perspectives, including those of teachers, parents, examiners, trainers and the learners themselves.

You can progress through this course at your own pace, watching videos, listening to trainers, sharing ideas with peers and completing reflective tasks.

Completion of all course material is required if you wish to be awarded a certificate of completion.

What to expect

You will find multi-modal and engaging content, including

Videos
Quizzes
Presentations
Sample exam observations

Learning input on this course varies to include engaging with texts, observing and analysing examples of exams, completing practical tasks, and contributing to a discussion forum.

Quiz answers in this course will be available once you have completed the task. This enables you to review your ideas and highlight areas of focus that you can work on.

GESE Introduction

An introduction to Trinity GESE exams
Understanding and navigating the GESE syllabus
A learner’s journey
Developing soft skills
Ensuring a positive washback effect in your classes
In-person versus online preparation and exam options
Supporting your learners
What the examiner is looking for
Elicitation techniques

Initial Stage (GESE 1-3)

Functions, grammar and lexis required at grades 1-3
Communicative skills required at grades 1-3
Preparing for the Conversation phase
Sample exams at grades 1 to 3

Elementary Stage (GESE 4-6)

Functions, grammar and lexis required at grades 4-6
Communicative skills required at grades 4-6
Preparing for the Topic phase
Preparing for the Conversation phase
Sample exams at grades 4-6

Intermediate Stage (GESE 7-9)

Functions, grammar and lexis required at grades 7-9
Communicative skills required at grades 7-9
Preparing for the Interactive phase
Preparing for the Topic phase
Preparing for the Conversation phase
Sample exams at grades 7-9

Digital credential

Complete the course

After completing all of the course modules, you will need to take the final test. You will need to achieve a score of 50% or higher to complete the course and receive your digital credential. You can retake the final test up to two times (three attempts in total), and you can revisit any sections of the course to study up on questions that you find difficult.

Instant, verifiable credential

If you successfully pass the final test, you will immediately receive your digital credential. Your digital credential includes an e-certificate, which can be downloaded and printed, and a credential badge which can be displayed on your social media and LinkedIn profiles, allowing you to showcase your achievements.

Our credentials are incorruptible digital certificates encoded on blockchain, to ensure they cannot be altered or copied by anyone and can be easily verified by institutions. We use the same credential issuing platform as leading universities including Harvard, Oxford, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins.

Our tutors

Appreciates a good bottle of wine

Kevin Clare

Director of Teacher Training

Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria Björning-Gyde

CertTESOL, CertPT and DipTESOL Trainer, Course Writer

Personable and always curious

Karin Xie

ESOL Academic Manager (China Office), CertTESOL Trainer

Enjoys reading mystery stories

Lora Guo

Examinations Manager

Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare Voke

Teacher Trainer

Speaks fluent Spanish

Eve Conway

Teacher Trainer

Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross Thorburn

Teacher trainer, materials writer and education consultant

Appreciates a good bottle of wine

Kevin Clare, Appreciates a good bottle of wine

Since 2009, Kevin has been involved in teaching English in a range of different settings, teaching adults, teenagers and notably young learners in Australia, Daqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He has worked in language centres as a Director of Studies and in various roles in international schools. At English for Asia, Kevin directs courses and conducts online training for teachers in Hong Kong and around the world.

CELTA, PGCE, BA
Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria Björning-Gyde, Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria Bjorning Gyde is an examiner, moderator and marker on all Trinity TESOL panels, including the DipTESOL, CertTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT and CertOT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in New Zealand, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Maria also dedicates her time to education and projects related to animal welfare issues and behavioural change for a One Health approach in Bali.
Personable and always curious

Karin Xie, Personable and always curious

Karin began her TESOL career teaching English to young learners in Mainland China, before moving on to teach a wider range of ages and levels. Her roles have included senior teacher and in-house teacher trainer. Karin regularly presents at teacher conferences and has conducted research projects on teacher questioning in classrooms, learner autonomy, and how English environments impact learning.

Trinity CertTESOL, Trinity DipTESOL, TrinityTYLEC
Enjoys reading mystery stories

Lora Guo, Enjoys reading mystery stories

Lora is an experienced course developer and teacher trainer. Starting as a teacher at English First, she found her interest in various areas in TESOL. In addition to teaching, she is a marker on our Trinity CertPT and is involved in the development of curriculum and learning tools, such as learning apps and assessment systems. She has also provided educational product training and teacher training for new and experienced ESL teachers.

Trinity CertTESOL, MSc TESOL
Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare Voke, Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare began began her teaching career in 2008 and has experience in various roles in the UK, Mainland China and Hong Kong. She lived and worked in the south of China as a Regional Trainer for Education First and is particularly interested in Chinese learners of English. Clare has written online teaching courses and content, as well as presenting at conferences all over Asia.

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity TYLEC, MA International Social Transformation
Speaks fluent Spanish

Eve Conway, Speaks fluent Spanish

Eve has worked in Spain, Vietnam and Mexico as both a teacher and TYLEC trainer as well as having worked on shorter projects in the UK, Italy, Azerbaijan and Peru. She worked for over six years for the British Council, where she discovered a love for working with children, particularly Early Years learners. Eve is a keen conference speaker and occasional writer for ELT magazines and publications.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA Applied Linguistics, BA English language
Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross Thorburn, Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross started his teaching journey in 2006, teaching students of all ages in central China. Ross is passionate about using technology to improve education. He’s run online training programs for teachers in over fifty countries and used AI to evaluate the teaching quality of over 10,000 teachers. In 2020, Ross published his first book, Inside Online Language Teaching. Ross’s more recent book, Unlocking Success on the Duolingo English Test, covers strategies for success in the world’s first fully online AI powered high stakes language assessment.

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity FTCL TESOL, IDLTM, MA Language Education

Kevin Clare, Appreciates a good bottle of wine

Since 2009, Kevin has been involved in teaching English in a range of different settings, teaching adults, teenagers and notably young learners in Australia, Daqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He has worked in language centres as a Director of Studies and in various roles in international schools. At English for Asia, Kevin directs courses and conducts online training for teachers in Hong Kong and around the world.

CELTA, PGCE, BA
Maria Björning-Gyde, Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria Bjorning Gyde is an examiner, moderator and marker on all Trinity TESOL panels, including the DipTESOL, CertTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT and CertOT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in New Zealand, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Maria also dedicates her time to education and projects related to animal welfare issues and behavioural change for a One Health approach in Bali.
Karin Xie, Personable and always curious

Karin began her TESOL career teaching English to young learners in Mainland China, before moving on to teach a wider range of ages and levels. Her roles have included senior teacher and in-house teacher trainer. Karin regularly presents at teacher conferences and has conducted research projects on teacher questioning in classrooms, learner autonomy, and how English environments impact learning.

Trinity CertTESOL, Trinity DipTESOL, TrinityTYLEC
Lora Guo, Enjoys reading mystery stories

Lora is an experienced course developer and teacher trainer. Starting as a teacher at English First, she found her interest in various areas in TESOL. In addition to teaching, she is a marker on our Trinity CertPT and is involved in the development of curriculum and learning tools, such as learning apps and assessment systems. She has also provided educational product training and teacher training for new and experienced ESL teachers.

Trinity CertTESOL, MSc TESOL
Clare Voke, Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare began began her teaching career in 2008 and has experience in various roles in the UK, Mainland China and Hong Kong. She lived and worked in the south of China as a Regional Trainer for Education First and is particularly interested in Chinese learners of English. Clare has written online teaching courses and content, as well as presenting at conferences all over Asia.

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity TYLEC, MA International Social Transformation
Eve Conway, Speaks fluent Spanish

Eve has worked in Spain, Vietnam and Mexico as both a teacher and TYLEC trainer as well as having worked on shorter projects in the UK, Italy, Azerbaijan and Peru. She worked for over six years for the British Council, where she discovered a love for working with children, particularly Early Years learners. Eve is a keen conference speaker and occasional writer for ELT magazines and publications.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA Applied Linguistics, BA English language
Ross Thorburn, Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross started his teaching journey in 2006, teaching students of all ages in central China. Ross is passionate about using technology to improve education. He’s run online training programs for teachers in over fifty countries and used AI to evaluate the teaching quality of over 10,000 teachers. In 2020, Ross published his first book, Inside Online Language Teaching. Ross’s more recent book, Unlocking Success on the Duolingo English Test, covers strategies for success in the world’s first fully online AI powered high stakes language assessment.

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity FTCL TESOL, IDLTM, MA Language Education

Enrol now

You're only a few clicks away from your Preparing Learners for GESE course – get going in a matter of minutes!

Select the individual modules relevant to your learners' level or purchase all four modules covering GESE grades 1-9 at a discounted price.
Set up your online study account.
Begin your course.

Prepare for GESE - Grades 1-3 (10 hours)

GESE Introduction + Initial Stage (GESE grades 1-3)

More details

HK$800

This fully online, 10-hour, self-paced course is ideal for teachers looking to prepare their students for Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) at grades 1-3.

The complete course will

Provide an easy-to-follow breakdown of the GESE syllabus.
Offer practical help for teachers and useful activities and tips for students.
Show videos of sample GESE examinations with useful comments.
Cover the Initial Stage (GESE grades 1-3).

From the date of purchase, you will have 3 months access to the course.

On successful completion of the course you will receive a digital credential. Your digital credential includes an e-certificate, which can be downloaded and printed, and a credential badge which can be displayed on your social media and LinkedIn profiles.

Prepare for GESE - Grades 4-6 (10 hours)

GESE Introduction + Elementary Stage (GESE grades 4-6)

More details

HK$800

This fully online, 10-hour, self-paced course is ideal for teachers looking to prepare their students for Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) at grades 4-6.

The complete course will

Provide an easy-to-follow breakdown of the GESE syllabus.
Offer practical help for teachers and useful activities and tips for students.
Show videos of sample GESE examinations with useful comments.
Cover the Elementary Stage (GESE grades 4-6).

From the date of purchase, you will have 3 months access to the course.

Prepare for GESE - Grades 7-9 (10 hours)

GESE Introduction + Intermediate Stage (GESE grades 7-9)

More details

HK$800

This fully online, 10-hour, self-paced course is ideal for teachers looking to prepare their students for Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) at grades 7-9.

The complete course will

Provide an easy-to-follow breakdown of the GESE syllabus.
Offer practical help for teachers and useful activities and tips for students.
Show videos of sample GESE examinations with useful comments.
Cover the Intermediate Stage (GESE grades 7-9).

From the date of purchase, you will have 3 months access to the course.

Prepare for GESE - Grades 1-9 (20 hours)

GESE Introduction + All Stages (GESE grades 1-9)

More details

HK$1,200

This complete, fully online, 20-hour, self-paced course is ideal for teachers looking to prepare their students for Trinity’s Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) at grades 1-9.

The complete course will

Provide an easy-to-follow breakdown of the GESE syllabus.
Offer practical help for teachers and useful activities and tips for students.
Show videos of sample GESE examinations with useful comments.
Cover the Initial, Elementary and Intermediate Stages (GESE grades 1-9).

From the date of purchase, you will have 3 months access to the course.

Preparing Learners for GESE

Preparing for GESE