Skillful Reading&Writing Level 3 CEFR B2

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1 CEFR Series overview: What is Macmillan Skillful? Skillful is a five-level, academic series, spanning from CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) levels A1 to C1. Each level is split into two books, one for Reading & Writing and the other for Listening & Speaking. Skillful offers a skills syllabus, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing, with vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and study skills. This CEFR mapping against Skillful is correlated with the following publicly available documents (last accessed June 15, 2015). Descriptors have been modified from the descriptors given in these sources. 1. EAQUALS/British Council Core Inventory for General English: BROCHURErevised6.pdf 2. EAQUALS Bank of Descriptors as checklists: 3. The Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment: What is CEFR? The CEFR was designed to provide a transparent, coherent, and comprehensive basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses and curriculum guidelines, the design of teaching and learning materials, and the assessment of foreign language proficiency. It is used in Europe but also in other continents and is now available in 39 languages. See for further information. Overview chart of Skillful level correlations to other level/grade systems: LEVEL TOEFL ibt TOEIC IELTS UCLES ALTE CEFR Foundation A Level 1 A2 1 KET Level 2 B1 2 PET Level 3 3 FCE Level 4 C1 4 CAE PTE PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

2 CEFR Overview of global competencies of CEFR level users: The CEFR was designed to level general English competencies rather than academic English skills, so there are some limitations in mapping Skillful against the CEFR. There is no CEFR mapping for Pronunciation or Study Skills. However, we can still find many matches for the more general language competencies between Skillful and the CEFR that form the base for developing the necessary academic skills and language knowledge more appropriate for a tertiary context. The general summaries of competencies at each level are: Skillful Foundation, A1: Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. Skillful Level 1, A2: Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment, and matters in areas of immediate need. Skillful Level 2, B1: Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst traveling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes, and ambitions, and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. Skillful Level 3, : Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. Skillful Level 4, C1: Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organizational patterns, connectors, and cohesive devices. (taken from copyright Council of Europe 2001) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

3 CEFR Reading & Writing Level 3 UNIT 1: Identity CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Previewing; life choices (p8) Understanding key terms (p8) Identifying the main idea (p10) Paragraph structure (p13) I can quickly understand the general content of a range of more formal texts on topics that include academic topics, looking for key words and headers to help me orientate myself through the text. I can also understand a lot of the supporting detail in the text. I can write a clear, well-structured paragraph on a more complex topic with suitable register and good grammatical control. Clause joining with subordinators: because, since, when, after, before, etc. I can use connecting words to express cause, effect, contrast, etc. (p14) Choosing the right word form and part of speech (p12) UNIT 2: Design CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Scanning; text about a construction (p18) Recognizing cause and effect: because of, due to, give rise to, etc.; text about construction projects (p20) Transitions: introducing opposing ideas: on the other hand, in contrast to, etc. (p23) Non-defining relative clauses (p24) I can quickly scan through more complex texts to find information that is relevant to my I can recognize connecting words expressing cause, effect, contrast, etc. I can use connecting words expressing cause, effect, contrast, etc. I can correctly use non-defining relative clauses in sentences, e.g., The Pumping Station, which cost $436 million to build, was completed in Prefix over- (p22) + B1-C2 B1 PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

4 CEFR UNIT 3: Thought CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Skimming; text about internet information (p28) Understanding vocabulary from context; text about multitasking (p30) Summarizing (p33) I can quickly skim through more complex texts to find information that is relevant to my I can read a range of texts fairly independently and know when it s appropriate to refer to OR consult dictionaries and other sources to help my understanding. I can summarize information from a number of sources and text types including short academic texts. Adverb clauses of reason and purpose: since, as, so that, etc. (p34) I can use connecting words to express cause, effect, contrast, etc. B1- Collocations: noun + verb (p32) I can use a wide range of collocations. B1-C2 UNIT 4: Fire CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Summarizing; interview with a firefighter (p38) Identifying steps in a sequence; text about pyrotechnics (p40) Using sensory details in a narrative (p43) Adverbs as stance markers (p44) I can summarize information from a number of sources and text types including short academic texts. I can follow sequential linkers with present, past, and future times such as first and finally and other date and time references. I can write more detailed descriptions of abstract or concrete events, and expand on my feelings and reactions. I can use attitude adverbs to express stance, e.g., Frankly, I m not particularly interested in what he is saying. American and British English: have to vs. have got to (p42) B1 B1+ PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

5 CEFR UNIT 5: Movement CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Making inferences; text about invasive species (p48) Using a graphic organizer to take notes; text about animal navigation (p50) Using sentence variety (p53) Object noun clauses with that (p54) I can quickly skim through more complex texts to find information that is relevant to my I can use an increasingly wide range of grammatical structures to create variety in my writing on formal and informal topics. I can use that in a relative clause. I can develop my argument by referring to other points and ideas through using phrases that contain that clauses, e.g., It was widely believed that Collocations: verb + preposition (p52) UNIT 6: Disease CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Increasing reading speed; text about telesurgery (p58) Distinguishing fact and opinion; text about genetic testing (p60) I can understand more advanced texts which contain stated facts and opinions. C1 Thesis statements (p63) Passive modals: advice, ability, and possibility (p64) I can read quickly through more complex texts to find information that is relevant to my I can use passive modals to give advice and to talk about ability and possibility, e.g., I should have reminded her to take an umbrella, but I didn t see her this morning. (This Skillful section uses passive modals in the present tense.) Words with Greek and Latin origins (p62) UNIT 7: Survival CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level B1 C1 C1 PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

6 CEFR Using questions to be an active reader; book report (p68) Annotating text; blog about research trip (p70) Writing about cause and effect (p73) I can use connecting words to express cause, effect, contrast, etc. Past unreal conditional (p74) I can use the third or unreal conditional and mixed conditional sentences. Prefixes un- and in- (p72) UNIT 8: Drive CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Identifying important details; text about William Kamkwamba (p78) Identifying sources of information (p80) I can read quickly through more complex texts to find information that is relevant to my I can distinguish between the main idea and supporting details and understand details to a fair degree. Effective hooks: writing techniques to grab the reader s interest (p83) Intensifier + comparative combinations (p84) I can use intensifiers such as completely hopeless, entirely satisfied, etc. B1- I can express ideas with a more precise degree of meaning, e.g., Building costs will be a great C1 deal higher next year. Idioms related to success (p82) I can use some idiomatic expressions. C1 UNIT 9: Sound CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Identifying tone and mood; book excerpt (p88) I can understand how tone can affect the style of a text. C1+ Using similes and metaphors (p93) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited

7 CEFR Cleft sentences with what (p94) Descriptive adjectives (p92) I can use a wide range of descriptive adjectives. B1+ UNIT 10: Tomorrow CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Recognizing the writer s attitude and bias (p98) Reading statistical data (p100) I can understand how tone can affect the style of a text. C1+ Qualifying statistical data (p103) The future progressive (p104) I can use the future progressive/continuous to talk about predictions, e.g., Next month, I ll be undertaking an internship with a major bank. Vocabulary for describing trends: surge, decline, etc. (p102) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited