Why do we start to learn a language that is not our mother tongue? Usually, it is because we see some value in that language as a means of transaction and communication, that is, as something that we can use in our day-to-day lives to communicate with others and to make ourselves understood by the people around us. English has become an important transactional language in today’s world, and hence there is value in learning it. The objective of this course is to enable learners to progressively become confident and articulate communicators in English. We will approach the English language from a communicative and functional perspective, so that students can become familiar with the reading, writing, listening and speaking of English within the contexts most relevant to them. This course is the first of two on learning the functional aspects of the English language, and will primarily focus on oral communication.