There’s something almost poetic about discovering that A1 in English came first. Before the Invisible Teacher that many of us know and love, Dele Ashade was already crafting this foundation. His first version. His starting point.

And honestly? That makes perfect sense when you actually dive into it.

Here’s what struck me immediately – this isn’t a book trying to impress anyone. It’s not showing off with complex theories or advanced concepts. Instead, it does something much harder. It starts from scratch. Really, truly from the beginning.

I’ve taught English for years now, and I can tell you – finding a book that doesn’t assume prior knowledge is rare. A1 in English does exactly that. It takes school leavers by the hand and says, “Let’s build this together, step by step.”

The way Ashade approaches figures of speech? It’s comprehensive in a way that doesn’t overwhelm. Articles to interjections. Each with their grammatical functions explained. Not just memorized, but understood.

What fascinates me as both a teacher and someone who genuinely loves this language is how the book handles the fundamentals:

Grammatical Functions – because knowing what words do is just as important as knowing what they are.

Figures of Speech – those literary devices that make language sing, not just communicate.

Concord – that tricky subject-verb agreement that trips up even confident speakers.

Use of Preposition – honestly, these little words cause more confusion than they have any right to.

The Comprehension Registers section caught my attention too. Because reading isn’t just about understanding words. It’s about understanding context. Tone. Purpose.

Phrasal Verbs? They’re the difference between sounding textbook-formal and actually speaking English. Types of Verbs and Use of Adverbs? Foundation work that pays dividends later.

And Stress? Often overlooked, but pronunciation can make or break communication.

Now, here’s where I need to be completely honest with you.

This book will leave you stunned – but maybe not in the way you expect. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t promise quick fixes or exam shortcuts. What it does is something more valuable. It builds understanding from the ground up.

But – and this is important – it’s not your primary exam prep tool. For JAMB or Post-JAMB specifically, you’ll want something more targeted. More exam-focused.

Think of A1 in English as your foundation. Your bedrock. The thing you build everything else on.

It’s the book that works alongside your other texts. The one that fills in the gaps. That explains the “why” behind the rules you’re memorizing for exams.

I remember when I first realized this distinction. Foundation books versus exam books. They serve different purposes. Both essential, but in different ways.

For exam prep specifically, you might want to explore our recommended books for JAMB, WAEC, or NECO. These will give you the exam-specific strategies and question types you need.

But for understanding? For really grasping the language you’re being tested on? A1 in English is where you start.

The beautiful thing about Dele Ashade’s work is how it recognizes that learning isn’t linear. Sometimes you need the foundational understanding first. Sometimes you need the exam strategies. Often, you need both.