English Conversation All Levels

Transcription

1 English Conversation All Levels Author of the syllabus: Nicole E. Schwab Phone: Signature and stamp: Coordinator: Erik L. Dostal Phone: Signature and stamp:

2 Syllabus M-F Open English Conversation All Levels Course duration: 36 lessons 90 minutes each CA Institute of Languages Overview CA Institute s English Conversation courses are designed for students who are seeking to further expand their understanding and fluency in the English language, paying particular attention to the skills of speaking and listening. Goals To improve the level of students understanding of a foreign language and to get the students to use the language in an effective manner to improve communication. To reach the next level according to the CEFR. After the course, students will be able to do the following: n I can talk about myself and others, including physical descriptions and personalities, socializing, friendship, and relationships. n I can about the natural world, the environment, animals, and ecology. n I can talk about arts and entertainment, including film, visual arts, literature, televisions, sports, and hobbies. n I can talk about health and illness, lifestyles, science, medicine, drugs, and technology. n I can talk about governments and politics, including the social issues and the media. Materials Various theme-related materials Other resources Film, documentaries, TV, projector, internet, dictionaries, special projects Milestones Weekly review Certificate upon completion Special activities Weekend courses Intensives Movie night Much more.

3 n I can talk about transportation, travel, and adventure. Discuss celebrations and festivals. Prerequisites A level of understanding of English that is one step lower than the conversation course you signed up for according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Requirements It is necessary to be flexible and prepared. Please complete all assignments beforehand and bring the following to class: 1. Laptop 2. Articles, textbooks, documents and homework Topic Outline / Schedule Important Note: Refer to the course calendar for specific meeting dates and times. Activity and assignment details will be explained in detail within each week's corresponding learning module. If you have any questions, please contact your instructor. n Lesson 1 Icebreaker games. Go over course material and goals. Introduce yourself and get to know your classmates and teachers. n Lesson 2 Physical descriptions. How to talk about what people look like. Review of descriptive vocabulary. Drawing pictures based on a partner's description. n Lesson 3 Personalities and character. Short reading: Graphology. Review and learn new words to talk about personality. Analyze your partner's signatures. Take and discuss a personality test. n Lesson 4 Family and Friends. Family terms and designations. Draw and talk about your family tree. Family discussion questions.

4 n Lesson 5 Feelings and emotions. Vocabulary connected to emotions, difference between ed and ing adjectives. Discuss extreme types of feelings, ex. Furious, terrified..., Idioms to describe emotions. n Lesson 6 Love and Relationships. Review vocabulary connected to relationships. Idiomatic phrases dealing with love and dating. n Lesson 7 Pets and animals. Animal vocabulary. Discuss your pets and interactions with animals. Discussion questions concerning the ethical treatment of animals. n Lesson 8 The Natural World. Learn to describe different landscapes and their features. Use several illustrations to have a partner guess what landscape you are talking about. n Lesson 9 Ecology and green living. Review and discussion of ecological issues. Short reading on global warming and decreasing carbon footprint. Students calculate their own carbon footprint and discuss ways in which they help the environment. n Lesson 10 The weather and climate. Review of weather vocabulary. Weather blogs. Listen to weather reports and talk about extreme types of weather. Write a weather report for a location. n Lesson 11 Cinema and film. Discuss different genres of film and what they contain. Movie vocabulary, including people who work in film production. Talk about your favorite and least favorite films. n Lesson 11 Books and reading. Categorize different types of literature. First line, last line activity. Read book reviews and how to describe a book. Discuss what you often read. Recommend a book to your partner. n Lesson 12 Sports and games. Review sports vocabulary. Describe different games to partner, how to play and equipment needed. Invent a new game, complete with equipment list and rules.

5 n Lesson 13 Hobbies and free-time activities. Talk about different types of hobbies and interests. Discussion questions which focus on you and your partner's interests and what new hobbies they would like to try. n Lesson 14 Music. Genres of music and musical instruments. Listening: Music and emotion. Discuss your favorite bands and songs. n Lesson 15 The arts. Review different types of arts, focusing on visual arts of painting and sculpture. Read about controversial artwork and give your opinion on it. n Lesson 16 Entertainment and television. Discuss different types of entertainment and television genres. Discuss conversation questions with partner. Survey classmates to determine their entertainment preferences. n Lesson 17 Human body. Review vocabulary of the body, inside and outside. Student teams draw a person and label their parts. Body idioms. Guessing game: discuss facial expressions and body language. n Lesson 18 Illness and treatment. Match picture cards with ailments. Talk about most common illnesses and injuries and how to treat them. Role-play doctor and patient. n Lesson 19 Health and lifestyle. Discuss what makes up a healthy lifestyle and how to achieve these goals. Reading: Trick or Treatment. Talk about alternative medicine and medical myths. Survey: Do you have a healthy lifestyle? n Lesson 20 Science. Vocabulary connected to various fields of science. Reading: Crazy scientists. Listening: Scientific explanations to everyday phenomena. Discuss with partner. n Lesson 21 Technology and inventions. Review of technology vocabulary. Class survey: How much technology do you use everyday? Best inventions of modern world.

6 n Lesson 22 The supernatural. Discussion of vocabulary connected to the supernatural. Reading: Superstitions Around the World. Telling ghost stories. n Lesson 23 Work. Work-related vocabulary. Class survey: What is the ideal job? Reading: Unusual Jobs. Discuss with partner work conversation questions. n Lesson 24 Crime and punishment. Beat the Burglars quiz. Match vocabulary of crime, criminal, and verb. Discuss types of punishments and justice system. n Lesson 25 Politics and government. Talk about different types of political systems and the parts of government. Discuss conversation questions with partner. n Lesson 26 Social issues. Identify modern social issues, ex. Poverty, homelessness, unemployment, drug abuse, etc. Students divide into 2 groups and debate the different sides of various social issues. n Lesson 27 News and the media. Review media vocabulary. Media survey: How do you keep up with current events. Reading: Working for a newspaper. Role-play interviews with partner. n Lesson 28 Transport and traveling. Talk about the different types of transportation, pros and cons of each. Identify and discuss transportation problems and discomforts. n Lesson 29 Traveling and adventure. Class survey: Your last holiday. Reading: Tips for traveling abroad. Writing and designing postcards. Role-play hotel and guest. n Lesson 30 Celebrations and festivals: Look at photos of unusual festivals, discuss and guess about them with partner. Listening to check. Talk about typical celebrations in your country and how they are celebrated.

7 n Lesson 31 Food and eating. Review food vocabulary. Reconstruct menu after studying it for 3 minutes. Talk about how to describe food and cooking. Role-play: at the restaurant. n Lesson 32 Shops and shopping. Talk about different types of shopping available now. Class survey: Your buying habits. Vocabulary connected to money and spending money. n Lesson 33 Clothes and fashion. Review clothes vocabulary, discuss what people in photos are wearing. Talk about how to describe clothes, material and style. Pair-work: find 12 differences between two pictures. n Lesson 34 Houses and home. Discuss rooms and furniture that can be found in a house. Describe your house for your partner to draw. Reading: My favorite room. n Lesson 35 Mixed-up themes: What do you remember? Partners choose a conversation topic from a box of previously discussed themes and review the vocabulary and discussion questions. n Lesson 36 Review the course's themes and discuss changes and improvements. Games. Useful Links GRAMMAR Highly recommended. Wide selection of grammar exercises A comprehensive selection of grammar exercises from the University of Victoria, Canada. Check out the home page for some reading exercises, too. A wide range of grammar quizzes at different levels. Includes some vocabulary and phrasal verbs practice. ESL Blues offers interactive grammar exercises for elementary and intermediate students as well

8 as explanations of common errors. Grammar rules and exercises LISTENING PRACTICE A selection of everyday conversations / listening quizzes at three levels of difficulty (American English) English Language Listening Lab online with over 1000 listening activities at different levels. Canadian, US, British, Irish, New Zealand and Australian accents. Links to various sites where you can practice your listening. From Beginner to Advanced. Watch short video extracts on famous places in the UK and answer multiple choice questions. Advanced level. PODCASTS Wide range of podcasts. Two short (3 to 5 minute) podcasts available every week, in clearly spoken English. 6-Minute English. Podcasts for learners of English. Excellent resource. Transcripts available. A wide range of BBC podcasts (advanced level). Podcasts on subjects as varied as peace symbols, pilgrimages and twins. Consult the archive online (click on the topic), or subscribe free of charge to receive a monthly podcast. Interviews with famous writers, painters, filmmakers, musicians, scientists, sports personalities, etc. from the BBC archives. Advanced level ; no transcripts. SOCIAL ENGLISH Australian TV series for elementary level students of English. Everyday situations such as

9 expressing thanks, booking into a hotel, introducing people. 42 episodes with full transcript and notes. Listening practice and useful expressions: suggesting, advising, disagreeing, showing interest, etc. Intermediate level. VOCABULARY Vocabulary quizzes organized according to topic: clothes/occupations/nationalities, etc. and level (easy/medium/difficult). Has links to grammar, crosswords, etc. Words in the News: listening and vocabulary development based on BBC news stories. Vocabulary building, practice tasks and follow-up exercises. Described as advanced but more intermediate level, in fact. PHRASAL VERBS Interesting dictionary where you can look up a phrasal verb by preposition or by verb. Includes quizzes and worksheets. Phrasal verbs dictionary, examples, practice exercises & listening. Good for lower levels, too. Now offering quizzes on 134 phrasal verbs. Answer keys available. Business idioms PRONUNCIATION General pronunciation tips and practical exercises. Good practice exercises on minimal pairs: e.g. sherry/cherry; pen / pain. READING Direct access to a very wide range of UK, US and other online newspapers in English.

10 Reading texts and exercises from Upper Beginner to Advanced levels. Very easy to navigate. Scroll down to the blue box where you will find four levels of reading exercises. Thousands of articles with useful comprehension and vocabulary exercises. Speed reading techniques. Paste your own text in or have one selected for you. An online study course from the UN that aims to help users improve their English language skills while extending their knowledge of the history and workings of the UN. WRITING United Nations English Language program (New York): online materials for practicing letters, memos & s. A simple, practical guide to the principles of plain English. Check out the Free Guides. Writing guide MISCELLANEOUS BBC gateway site with news, grammar, vocabulary, quizzes, pronunciation. Highly recommended. British Council gateway site with themes, stories, tests, games, etc. for adults and children