What is Spellian?

Spellian is an innovative online language conversation exchange programme for secondary school students. Each participant is paired with a native student of a similar age and they have one weekly conversation online.

Which languages are available?

We currently offer English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

How long do the conversations last?

Each session is designed to last around 30/40 minutes, with half of the time spent speaking in the learning language and half in the native language. However, there is no time limit, and we encourage students to talk for as long as they wish.

Where do conversations happen?

Spellian conversations take place at home, by video conference, using the Spellian online platform.

When do conversations happen?

Conversations are held Monday to Friday in the evenings, or on Saturdays (morning, afternoon, or evening). Each participant indicates their preferred day and time, and we assign them a slot that matches their availability.

Are the sessions supervised?

At the beginning, a Spellian teacher joins each pair of students to introduce them, make sure they are comfortable using the platform, and help them get started with their exchange. After that, students connect by themselves, but we carefully monitor their participation and are always available to provide support whenever needed.

How many sessions are included?

There is one session per week during term time. Spellian follows the UK school calendar and pauses during the UK half term and Christmas holidays.

What are the start and end dates of the Spellian exchange?

The exchange starts staggered in the Autumn Term, with most languages and school years starting in the first half of November. Spellian comes to an end at the beginning of April.

Who can take part in the programme?

Spellian is open to students from participating schools, usually aged 13–18, depending on their school’s choice. The exact year groups vary by country.

What are the requirements to take part in Spellian?

Students need to attend one of our participating schools, be motivated to join the exchange, and commit to connecting once a week during term time. Since Spellian is an exchange, it’s also important that each student is willing to help their partner and actively contribute to the conversations.

What level of language is needed?

No specific level is required. The Spellian exchange is designed to support students of all abilities and allow them to feel at ease and make quick progress, even if they weren’t very confident at the start. What really matters is enthusiasm and a genuine willingness to learn.

How much does it cost?

The fee might vary depending on the options selected by each school. Your school’s registration form will provide the exact cost.

What equipment or software is required?

Your child will need a computer or tablet with a webcam, a microphone, and a stable internet connection. We don’t recommend using a phone, since the screen is too small to follow the resources and see their partner clearly at the same time. The device needs to be compatible with Zoom, and the Zoom app should be installed.

What do students talk about in the sessions?

The conversations are guided and follow the resources provided on the Spellian platform, which are linked to GCSE, IB and A level themes, so the sessions directly support their school curriculum and exam preparation. This ensures that discussions are engaging and relevant, while helping students learn both the language and the culture they are studying in a structured way.

Is preparation required before each session?

No preparation is strictly necessary, but we do recommend a short review beforehand (for example, having a quick look at the stimulus provided). This helps students feel more confident and make the most out of the programme.

Can a session be cancelled or rescheduled?

Yes. If your child can’t attend a session because of illness or a personal or school commitment, they should inform their partner by email in advance. It’s important that both students agree on whether to reschedule, and if so, decide together on a new time to catch up for the missed session.

What counts as an absence?

If a student doesn’t attend a scheduled session without informing their partner beforehand, this is recorded as an absence. After two absences, participants might lose their place in the programme, as we need to re-partner the student who connected and was left waiting. This helps us ensure fairness and continuity for all students.

Can my child change partner if their partner is not committed?

Almost all Spellian participants are very committed and enthusiastic, but if your child has any concerns about their partner’s commitment, they just need to let us know so we can support them straight away. If things don’t improve, we will do our best to repartner them.

What if my child doesn’t feel comfortable with their partner?

We dedicate a lot of time and care to organising the partnerships, so it’s rare that they don’t work well. However, if your child doesn’t feel comfortable or there are ongoing difficulties, they just need to let us know and we’ll do our best to find a new partner.

How will Spellian help my child improve their language skills?

Our carefully curated resources have been developed by experienced teachers and cover every GCSE and A Level topic. Each week, the conversations focus on a different topic, offering engaging stimuli to spark conversation, build vocabulary, learn new expressions, and use the full range of tenses. In addition, the resources encourage students to go beyond the remit of what they already know by guiding them to expand their answers and use more ambitious grammatical structures and key vocabulary.

Moreover, speaking regularly with a native speaker also boosts fluency, confidence, pronunciation, and cultural awareness, making language learning more natural and engaging.

Is the programme safe for my child to use?

Absolutely. We’ve been working with secondary school students for a long time, and their safety and satisfaction is our top priority. To this end, we have a robust safeguarding policy and a thorough Code of Conduct. All participants come from leading schools and are endorsed by their teachers before joining and our experienced team of Spellian teachers organise and follow up the partnerships, monitoring the progress of each student.

Can I track my child’s progress?

Yes. You can see at any time how many sessions your child has completed and how many remain by checking their Spellian dashboard.