From Intermediate to Advanced: The Power of Live, Small-Group Sessions at Yuno Learning

This case study examines how Yuno Learning’s 3-month Intermediate Spoken English Program empowered 30 randomly selected learners.
December 15, 2025 Case studies

Executive Summary

While Intermediate learners can handle everyday conversations, they often struggle to sustain longer discourse, self-edit mid-sentence, or integrate advanced grammar seamlessly. Over 36 classes, participants averaged a +3.5 increase in overall score (from 11.6 to 15.1), with 100% reaching the Advanced band. The largest gains in Logical Flow & Coherence and Pronunciation translated directly into greater self-belief: learners reported feeling “I can speak fluently and accurately now,” and many volunteered to lead English discussions outside class.

Program Overview

Key emphasis:

  • Personal Expression & Storytelling
  • Impromptu Speaking & Extempore
  • Structured Presentations & Reports
  • Advanced Grammar in Context
  • Pronunciation, Intonation & Connected Speech
  • Real-World Simulations & Group Discussions

Client Background

  • Sample Size: 30 randomly selected Intermediate-level learners (Jan–Jun 2025)
  • Demographics: Ages 20–55; professionals, students, and homemakers
  • Format: 3 months, 36 one-hour live classes with peer and instructor interaction

Challenges Identified

  1. Disjointed Storytelling: Learners reverted to single-sentence answers
  2. Mid-Sentence Pauses: Frequent stops due to self-monitoring of errors
  3. Grammar Inconsistencies: Difficulty deploying advanced tenses and conditionals
  4. Pronunciation Lapses: Non-native stress patterns affecting clarity

The Solution: Live, Small-Group, Skill-Focused Sessions

Yuno’s Intermediate program is built around live, instructor-led classes capped at 5–7 learners, ensuring every student receives personalized attention. Rather than a static list of topics, the curriculum unfolds as a scaffolded learning journey—each session reinforces prior skills while introducing one new challenge. Instructors monitor each learner’s logical flow, grammatical accuracy, and pronunciation in real time, stepping in immediately to correct errors and model native-like phrasing.

Classes begin with focused micro-tasks—for example, refining a two-minute self-introduction—before progressing to immersive activities like impromptu presentations and peer-reviewed storytelling. This structure ensures that learners experience small, measurable wins each day: mastering a complex connector one session, eliminating a common verb-tense error the next, and gradually expanding their speaking time without hesitation.

Throughout the 36 sessions, progress is tracked via weekly rubrics and one-on-one check-ins. Instructors set individual mini-goals (e.g., “use past perfect in a narrative”) and celebrate when students hit them during live role-plays. This cycle of demonstration → practice → instant feedback accelerates growth: by Week 4, most learners speak in uninterrupted 90-second monologues with significantly fewer fillers, and by Week 12 they confidently deliver structured five-minute reports.

Finally, the live format fosters a supportive peer environment. As each student sees classmates surmount similar challenges—whether mastering nuanced stress patterns in loud-reading drills or seamlessly linking ideas in extempore debates—they gain both the technical skills and the collective confidence that transforms “I’m learning” into “I can speak.”

Assessment Parameters

Learners were scored 0–5 on each:

  1. Logical Flow & Coherence
  2. Fluency
  3. Grammar Accuracy
  4. Pronunciation Clarity
  • Overall Score = Sum of all four (Max = 20)
  • Pre-Program Band: Intermediate (11–13)
  • Post-Program Target: Advanced (14–18)
     

Skill-Wise Improvement (Averages)

Skill

Pre-Program Avg (/5)

Post-Program Avg (/5)

Gain

Logical Flow & Coherence~3.0~4.0+1.0
Fluency~3.0~4.0+1.0
Grammar~2.8~3.6+0.8
Pronunciation~2.9~4.0+1.1

All learners moved from Intermediate into the Advanced proficiency band.

Deepening Confidence Through Flow & Fluency

Seamless Narration:

  • Before: Speakers produced 2–3 clauses with breaks:
    “I presented… uh… my project… last week.”
  • After: Learners delivered 4–5 clause narratives with smooth transitions:
    “Last week, I presented my project to the team, and I answered all their questions confidently.”
  • Impact: 85% of learners reported “I felt proud to speak without stopping to think about grammar.”

Fluency Under Pressure:

  • Before: 30-second monologues contained 5–6 filler words (“um,” “er”)
  • After: 90-second talks averaged only 2 fillers, showcasing greater automaticity
  • Impact: Learners began volunteering to lead English-only discussions at work and in study groups.

Key Insights

  • Universal Progress: 100% advanced at least one proficiency band
  • Strongest Gains in Flow & Pronunciation: These directly correlate with reduced anxiety and greater willingness to speak in public
  • Grammar Improvements: Made speech more precise, supporting longer utterances without self-correcting mid-stream
  • Consistent Effectiveness: Random sampling confirms the program’s scalability and reliability

Conclusion

Yuno’s Intermediate-level program not only elevates test scores but transforms learners into confident communicators. Targeted enhancements in logical flow, fluency, and grammar foster a sense of agency: participants leave the program ready to articulate ideas clearly, engage in professional conversations, and tackle real-world speaking challenges.