Cambridge English: ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening Level 1 Sample Test C

Transcription

1 Cambridge English: ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and Listening Level 1 Sample Test C Please note: With the exception of the task cards in Phases 1b and 2b, this sample test frame will be used only by the interlocutor. It will not be shown to the candidates. This test should not exceed 24 minutes 3 mins overall Phase 1a Hello. My name is (Interlocutor), and this is my colleague (Assessor). And what are your names? [Look at both candidates in turn.] Could I have your mark sheets? [Collect mark sheets and hand to assessor.] Thank you. The first part of the test will be about different places to live, and you will each give a formal presentation, but first I'd like you to talk together and share your ideas on the subject. Find out from each other about the different places where you have lived and what you liked or disliked about them. You have about two minutes to ask each other about this, so don't worry if I interrupt you. [Withdraw eye contact to signal that candidates should start. If necessary, prompt candidates with questions from the box below (e.g. if candidates are experiencing difficulty in continuing the interaction, if they stray from the topic or if the language produced is clearly below L1 level). Adapt if necessary. Encourage candidate-candidate interaction by eliciting agreement or alternative opinions from candidates by saying things such as "What do you think?", "Tell us what you think.", "And you?".] Talk about: Different places to live prompts - whether you prefer to live in new or old buildings. - the advantages of living on public transport routes. - the advantages of living in the same place for a long time. - somewhere you would really like to live in the future.

2 9 mins overall Phase 1b Now you are each going to give a formal presentation for about two minutes on the topic of housing. While you are talking, we will listen to you. Your partner and the assessor [Indicate assessor.] will then comment or ask you questions about what you have said. (Candidate A), [Hand Candidate A a candidate booklet open at correct page and point at task.] you are going to talk about whether you think the centre of a city is the best place to live. "The centre of a city is the best place to live." What do you think? For example, think about: - cost. - crime and safety. - shopping and entertainment. (Candidate B), [Hand Candidate B a candidate booklet open at correct page and point at task.] you are going to talk about whether you think it s better to live in a flat than a house. "It s better to live in a flat than a house." What do you think? For example, think about: - people of different ages. - the convenience of apartments. - the disadvantages of living in an apartment. 1 min You both have one minute to think about what you want to say. You can make notes if you want to. [Indicate paper and pencil.] If there s anything you don t understand, please ask me. [Withdraw eye contact to signal start of preparation.]

3 2 mins (Candidate A), are you ready? [Allow up to 15 seconds.] Please tell us all [Indicate using hand gesture.] whether you think the centre of a city is the best place to live. (Candidate B), please listen, and then comment or ask questions at the end. All right? [If the candidate stops before 2 minutes, allow a 5-second pause. If the candidate shows no sign of continuing, move on.] 1 ½ mins that you have. (Candidate B), please comment or ask (Candidate A) any questions interaction.] (Assessor), do you have any comments or questions? [Wait for end of Assessor: [Retrieve Candidate A s booklet.] 2 mins (Candidate B), are you ready, or would you like to look at your notes again? [Allow up to 15 seconds.] All right? Please tell us all [Indicate using hand gesture.] whether you think it s better to live in a flat than a house. (Candidate A), please listen, and then comment or ask questions at the end. All right? [If the candidate stops before 2 minutes, allow a 5-second pause. If the candidate shows no sign of continuing, move on.] 1 ½ mins that you have. (Candidate A), please comment or ask (Candidate B) any questions interaction.] (Assessor), do you have any comments or questions? [Wait for end of Assessor: [Retrieve Candidate B s booklet.]

4 5 mins overall Phase 2a In this part of the test, you are going to listen to two recordings [Indicate CD player.] and answer some questions. All right? You are listening to a radio programme about the Citizens Advice Bureau, an organisation where you can get advice about all kinds of problems. Listen to the first interview, with a woman who works as a volunteer for the Citizens Advice Bureau, and answer these questions. You can make notes [Indicate paper.] if you want to. (Candidate A), when did the woman begin to work as a volunteer? [short pause] And what subject does she know most about? (Candidate B), what was the first job the woman did as a volunteer? [short pause] And how often does she do voluntary work now? [Pause for up to 10 seconds to allow time for notes.] All right? Listen to the first interview. [Indicate CD player and play CD.] Recording 1 Interviewer: Sheila, how did you become a volunteer with the Citizens Advice Bureau? Sheila: Well, I hadn t been in the workplace for about 12 years, being a mum, looking after the house and so on. Then one day a friend suggested I try some volunteer work for the Citizens Advice Bureau. I went along to the local office and started immediately. That was about 6 years ago. Interviewer: Did you start as an advisor? Sheila: No. I did administration work for two years and before that, right at the beginning, I was a receptionist for a while. I began doing advice work about 4 years ago after they d given me some training. Interviewer: What do you advise people about? Sheila: Oh, many things claiming benefits, work problems, debt, consumer issues but my specialist area is housing. These days I do part-time paid work for a Job Centre, and I ve had to cut my time with the Citizens Advice Bureau from 4 days a week to 2 days, but I m still very committed. I get a lot out of the work (Candidate A), when did the woman begin to work as a volunteer? [Wait for response.] And what subject does she know most about? (Candidate B), what was the first job the woman did as a volunteer? [Wait for response.] And how often does she do voluntary work now?

5 Now listen to the second interview, with a recent client of the Citizens Advice Bureau, and answer these questions. Again, you can make notes [Indicate paper.] if you want to. (Candidate B), what did the woman need advice about the first time she went to the Citizens Advice Bureau? [short pause] And what did the electricity company say when she contacted them? (Candidate A), how much money did the woman expect to save on her electricity bill? [short pause] And what did she buy after speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau? [Pause for up to 10 seconds to allow time for notes.] All right? Listen to the second interview. [Indicate CD player and play CD.] Recording 2 Interviewer: Jo, why did you go to the Citizens Advice Bureau? Jo: I ve been twice actually, once a few years ago when I needed some help with a problem at work, and the second time I went was much more recently when I wanted advice about an electricity bill which I couldn t afford to pay. Interviewer: Was it a very big bill? Jo: Well, it was much more than I thought it would be. You see, I d changed suppliers a few months previously. I changed because the new company told me I d definitely be paying about 120 a year less than I had been with the other company. Then this bill came for over 300 I d never paid anything like that before. Interviewer: Was it a mistake? Jo: Obviously. I rang the company, expecting them to apologise and re-bill me, but they told me that the bill was correct. So I went to the Citizens Advice Bureau, and they sorted it out straightaway. They also gave me some good advice about saving energy at home. They told me about a new energy-saving boiler that I d love to have. But, that s too expensive for me right now. But I did get some energy-saving lights which are excellent and I m hoping they ll help cut my bills (Candidate B), what did the woman need advice about the first time she went to the Citizens Advice Bureau? [Wait for response.] And what did the electricity company say when she contacted them? (Candidate A), how much money did the woman expect to save on her electricity bill? [Wait for response.] And what did she buy after speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau? Key to Phase 2a Recording A: Recording B: Candidate A: Candidate B: When did the woman begin to work as a volunteer? (about) six years ago What subject does she know most about? housing Candidate B: Candidate A: What was the first job the woman did as a volunteer? (she was) a receptionist How often does she do voluntary work now? 2 days (a week) *accept paraphrasing What did the woman need advice about the first time she went to the Citizens Advice Bureau? *a problem at work What did the electricity company say when she contacted them? *the bill was correct How much money did the woman expect to save on her electricity bill? (about) 120 a year What did she buy after speaking to the Citizens Advice Bureau? (energy saving) lights

6 7 mins overall Phase 2b approx. 2.5 mins Now you re going to plan something together. I d like you to imagine that you ve been asked to start a group which gives advice to students who are new to the college. [Hand out candidate booklet open at correct page.] First discuss these things that students need advice about and decide which is the most important one to begin with. [Read out ideas whilst pointing at first box in candidate booklets.] Then make decisions about these things. [Read out discussion prompts while pointing at the second box.] You have two minutes to talk to each other about this, so don't worry if I interrupt you. [Withdraw eye contact to signal that candidates should start. If candidates do not start within 10 seconds, ask: Would you like to start now?] Important advice for students? accommodation health money Plan and decide: what advice to give where to get more information the best way to give this advice. So what have you decided? [Encourage both candidates to contribute.] approx. 30 seconds [Retrieve candidate booklets.]

7 approx. 4 mins Finally we're going to talk together about the advice you would give someone who was coming to live near you. What advice would you give? [Using the prompts below, and adapting where necessary to respond naturally to contributions, engage in three-way discussion.] Giving advice extension questions - What advice would you give them about how to get to know people? - What advice would you give them about where to live? - What problems do you think they should know about? [Ask further questions as necessary.] That is the end of the test.

8 Level 1, Phase 1b Candidate A "The centre of a city is the best place to live." What do you think? For example, think about: - cost. - crime and safety. - shopping and entertainment.

9 Level 1, Phase 1b Candidate B "It s better to live in a flat than a house." What do you think? For example, think about: - people of different ages. - the convenience of apartments. - the disadvantages of living in an apartment.

10 Level 1, Phase 2b Important advice for students? Plan and decide: accommodation what advice to give health where to get more information money the best way to give this advice.