Academic Spoken English builds oral English skills through student-centered, discipline-specific practice. Videos of student classroom performance are integrated into all ASE classes, along with one-on-one analysis of each performance. Class work consists of actively practicing the public speaking and interpersonal communication techniques which learners will need to be successful as graduate students, teaching assistants, and researchers. Small classes facilitate individualized diagnosis and practice.

Most ASE students have had considerable previous language study but little opportunity to communicate with English speakers. Instructors therefore devise exercises to activate previously learned grammar and vocabulary skills, often basing them on student-generated, situation-specific material.