In 30 minutes, find out what is holding your English speaking back — and what to work on next.
What is your English already doing well, and what should you improve? Based on a pre-session mini test, an experienced coach analyses your speaking. In 30 minutes we organise your weaknesses, practise the fixes together, and agree on your study direction.
- Skill diagnosis from a pre-session mini test
- Identify your weaknesses — and the speaking habits behind them
- Practical advice and a clear direction for your practice
Includes 100 Versant Pro Trainer app tokens
Just one session to start.
Grant Prentice — Founder, Kōjō Communication Academy
UK-born · University of Edinburgh graduate · 25+ years' teaching experience · 8 years coaching Versant
An experienced Kōjō coach leads your session, prepared in advance from your diagnostic results.
Who this session is for
You study English — but you're not sure how your speaking actually measures up.
Practice alone leaves some things invisible
“I'm practising — but I don't know what to fix.”
What you can see yourself
- •Which parts you are strong or weak at
- •How your scores are changing
- •How much you have practised
What a coach helps you find
- •Why your pronunciation is not coming through clearly
- •Why your accuracy drops on longer sentences
- •Why key details go missing in Part E
- •Why your Part F answer loses its thread
Your coach reviews your actual responses and works with you to find the points worth fixing.
From booking to your 30-minute session
A mini test first, once you have booked
Book
Book your 30-minute online coaching session through TidyCal.
Take the mini test
Complete a short, Versant-style mini test (about 5 minutes) before your session.
Coach analyses
Your coach reviews your answers, pronunciation, fluency and rhythm, and prepares the focus points.
30-minute coaching
Review the results together, organise your weaknesses, practise the fixes, and set your direction.
Before the session, you will take a short Versant-style mini test. This is not the official Versant test — it is Kōjō's own short speaking diagnostic.
What happens in the 30 minutes?
The content adapts to your results.
- 01
Confirm your goals
Your current level, target score, test timeline, and how much time you can practise.
- 02
Review your results together
Using your mini-test results, AI speech analysis, and your recorded answers, we organise your strengths and the points to improve.
- 03
Work on your weaknesses
The session centres on diagnosis and discussion, with practical practice where it helps.
- 04
Set your study direction
We agree on what to focus on after the session — short-term priorities and longer-term goals.
The kind of feedback you can expect
It doesn't end with “practise more.”
Part B
Common issue
On longer sentences, small words and fine details drop out. Linking sounds unnatural, or a re-attempt breaks the original answer.
Coaching
Practise listening for the small words that carry meaning — contractions and the linking between words. Learn to hold the sentence accurately rather than forcing a perfect word-for-word repeat.
Part E
Common issue
You remember the gist of the story, but names, places, and key events drop out — or come out in the wrong order.
Coaching
Organise the information as Characters → Setting → Actions → Outcome, then practise delivering what matters in order within 30 seconds.
Part F
Common issue
You can state an opinion, but rushing to give several reasons weakens each one — or the answer never quite comes together.
Coaching
Use PREP (Point → Reason → Example → Point). Build one reason fully before adding another, and practise wrapping up naturally within 40 seconds.
Pronunciation
Common issue
Subtle habits that are hard to notice yourself — weak word endings, sounds that don't link, unnatural rhythm and stress.
Coaching
Check how you are using your mouth, tongue and breath, and work on the actual sounds together. Where useful, we define exactly what to focus on in your own practice.
Your coach
Grant Prentice
Founder, Kōjō Communication Academy
- UK-born
- University of Edinburgh graduate
- 25+ years' teaching experience
- 8 years coaching Versant
Since 1998, Grant has developed English training and corporate learning programmes for business professionals in Japan and around the world — specialising in Versant preparation, business communication, and practical speaking skills. He is also the creator of the Versant Pro Trainer app.
View full profile →What stays with you after the session
Connecting your coaching to your next practice
After the session, you receive a PDF of the coaching material used in your session.
- Your strengths
- The points to improve
- The practice you did in the session
- Short- and medium-term goals
- What to focus on in your own practice
You will know exactly what to concentrate on in your next practice session.
Sample of actual coaching material
App × Coaching
Use the app for practice. Use coaching for direction.
Versant Pro Trainer is for your daily practice. Coaching checks the direction of that practice so the time you spend actually moves your score.
The aim is not simply more practice — it is practice matched to your own issues.
30-Minute Versant Diagnostic & Coaching
Just one session to start.
What's included
- Pre-session Versant-style mini test
- Coach analysis of your recording before the session
- 30-minute 1-on-1 coaching on Zoom
- Practice targeted at your weaknesses
- Study direction and goal setting
- PDF of your coaching session
- 100 Versant Pro Trainer app tokens
Secure payment via Stripe · The diagnostic session is limited to one per person.
What learners say
"The feedback was detailed and to the point. It became clear to me what I need to do to achieve my goal."
Hideki
Coaching session
"The advice was very practical and feasible."
Hiroyuki
Coaching session
Want continued support?
For learners who want ongoing coaching after the diagnostic, longer packages are available.
2-Session Course
- Two 60-minute Zoom coaching sessions
- Diagnostic mini test before the first session
- Coach review of your recording before each session
- Detailed PDF report after each session
- 200 app tokens included
This button books your first session. The remaining sessions are scheduled with a private link after purchase — no extra charge.
4-Session Course
- Four 60-minute Zoom coaching sessions
- Diagnostic mini test before the first session
- Coach review of your recording before each session
- Detailed PDF report after each session
- 400 app tokens included
This button books your first session. The remaining sessions are scheduled with a private link after purchase — no extra charge.
6-Session Course
- Six 60-minute Zoom coaching sessions
- Diagnostic mini test before the first session
- Coach review of your recording before each session
- Detailed PDF report after each session
- 600 app tokens included
This button books your first session. The remaining sessions are scheduled with a private link after purchase — no extra charge.
Tokens are added to your Versant Pro Trainer app wallet manually on the same day payment is received. You must be registered in the app before tokens can be applied.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is the diagnostic session a one-time offer?
Yes — the 30-minute Speaking Diagnostic & Coaching session is limited to one per person. If you would like continued support afterwards, you can book a 2-, 4-, or 6-session package.
Q. How do I book the remaining sessions in a package?
After you buy a package, we'll email you a private booking link. Use that same link to book each remaining session at no extra cost, until your sessions are used up.
Q. How are sessions delivered?
All coaching sessions are delivered live online via Zoom. You will receive the Zoom link in your TidyCal booking confirmation email. For remaining package sessions booked through the private link, you will receive the Zoom link in a separate confirmation email.
Q. What payment methods are accepted?
TidyCal processes payments through Stripe. Major credit and debit cards are accepted.
Q. What is the cancellation and rescheduling policy?
The diagnostic session ($22.50) is non-refundable. The 2-Session, 4-Session, and 6-Session Courses are refundable on a prorated basis depending on how many sessions have already been used. Once a session has been used, the cost of that session is deducted from the refund. You can reschedule any session free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours, or missed sessions, count as a used session and are not refunded.
Q. Where do I take the diagnostic mini test?
The diagnostic mini test is taken inside the Versant Pro Trainer app. After you book, we will email you a one-time test token and instructions.
Find out what is holding your speaking back
If you already know your target score but are not sure what is keeping you from it, a diagnostic session will show you.
Book a 30-Minute Speaking Diagnostic & Coaching Session