This article presents an analysis of a course in oral English created at the University of Nancy in 1974 for adult beginning students of English as a second language. The linguistic foundations of the course are discussed (verbal communication and communicative competence), as well as its psychopedagogic and pedagogic bases (cognitive approach, use of authentic materials, and use of audiovisual aids). The course's objectives are defined in terms of communicative competence. Finally, a syllabus is provided as well as a discussion of morphosyntactical progression in the course. (Author/AM)