Preparation for the FCE CEFR Level: B2 Author of the syllabus: Nicole E. Schwab Email: nicole@ca-institute.com Phone: +420 773 994 129 Signature and stamp: Coordinator: Erik L. Dostal Email: erik@ca-institute.com Phone: +420 776 178 333 Signature and stamp:
Syllabus M-F Open Preparation for the FCE Course duration: 36 lessons 90 minutes each Level B2 CEFR start: B2- CEFR end: B2+/C1- CA Institute of Languages E-Mail: info@ca-institute.com Overview Materials CA Institute s ESOL Exam Preparation courses are designed for students who are seeking to pass the ESOL examinations for a recognized language level certificate. Exam preparation focuses on reading, writing, speaking, listening, use of English. Goals To improve the level of students understanding of English and to pass the FCE. To prepare students for the structure and content of particular English exams. To reach a B2+/C1- level according to the CEFR. End of course CAN DO Statements n I can talk about personality and the future. I can effectively use a dictionary and write an informal letter. n I can talk about natural landscapes and verb patterns. I can understand collective nouns and write a formal email. n I can talk about the past and extreme adjectives. I can write a story. n I can talk about films and cinema. I can effectively use the simple and continuous tenses. I can write a review. n I can talk about verbs and idioms connected with speech. I can understand reported speech and write an essay. n I can talk about travel and idioms with go and come. I can use modal verbs of advice, ability, prohibition, and FCE Result Student's book FCE Result Resource book/teacher's book FCE Result workbook Other resources Film, documentaries, TV, projector, internet, dictionaries, special projects Milestones Weekly quizzes Special activities Weekend courses Intensives Movie night Much more
obligation. I can write an informal email. n I can talk about the verb get. I can use the passive. n I can talk about food and word pairs. I can speculate about the present and past grammatically. I can write a report. n I can talk about compound nouns and body idioms. I can use relative clauses. I can write a letter. n I can talk about mental activities and expressions with mind. I can use comparatives and superlatives. n I can talk about gadgets and their parts. I can use conditionals. I can write a letter of complaint. n I can talk about achievement and success. I can use causative verbs have, make, let, and get. I can write an article. Prerequisites A2+ 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 Unit 1: The Circle of Life lead in. Reading: multiple-choice The Jim Twins. Vocabulary: describing personalities. n Lesson 3
Grammar: talking about the future. Listening: multiple-choice Immortality. Speaking: talking about yourself and making small talk. n Lesson 4 Use of English: key word transformations. Vocabulary: Using a dictionary. Writing: an informal letter. Unit review for homework. Quiz next lesson. n Lesson 5 Unit 1 quiz. Unit 2: Wild lead in. Reading: multiple matching Born to be Wild. Vocabulary: describing natural landscapes. n Lesson 6 Grammar: Verb patterns (gerunds and infinitives). Listening: sentence completion Wilderness Therapy. Speaking: use photo prompts to discuss holiday activities. n Lesson 7 Use of English: Open-cloze Cute Knut. Vocabulary: collective nouns. Writing: a formal email. Review for homework, quiz next lesson. n Lesson 8 Unit 2 quiz. Unit 3: What's so Funny lead in. Reading: gapped text Strange but True. Vocabulary: extreme adjectives. n Lesson 9 Grammar: Talking about the past. Listening: Multiple-choice. Speaking: use prompts to discuss shows and exhibitions. n Lesson 10 Use of English: Multiple-choice cloze. Vocabulary: phrasal verbs with put. Writing: A story. Unit review for homework. Quiz next lesson. n Lesson 11 Unit 3 Quiz. Unit 4: Inspired lead in. Reading: gapped text When the Music Takes You. Vocabulary: films. n Lesson 12 Grammar: Simple and continuous tenses. Listening: Multiple-choice. Speaking: Use picture prompts to discuss graffiti as art or vandalism. n Lesson 13
Use of English: Open-cloze Renaissance Man. Vocabulary: phrasal verbs with take. Writing: a review. Unit review for homework. Quiz next lesson. n Lesson 14 Unit 4 Quiz. Unit 5: Real or Fake lead in. Reading: multiple matching Imposters. Vocabulary: verbs connected with speech. n Lesson 15 Grammar: Reported speech. Listening: multiple-choice. Speaking: Brainstorming, allowing yourself time to think, introducing your answer. n Lesson 16 Use of English: word formation, negative prefixes. Vocabulary: idioms connected with speech. Writing: an essay. Unit review for homework. Quiz next lesson. n Lesson 17 Unit 5 Quiz. Unit 6: Journeys lead in. Reading: multiple-choice Coast to Coast. Vocabulary: travel. n Lesson 18 Grammar: Modal verbs of advice, ability, prohibition, and obligation. Listening: multiple-choice. Speaking: Use prompts to discuss trips and excursions. n Lesson 19 Use of English: key word transformations. Vocabulary: idioms with come and go. Writing: an informal email. Unit review. n Lesson 20 Unit 6 Quiz. Unit 7: I Get the Message lead in. Reading: multiple matching SOS. Vocabulary: the verb get. n Lesson 21 Grammar: Passives. Listening: multiple matching. Speaking: use prompts to discuss language schools and learning English. n Lesson 22 Use of English: multiple-choice cloze Emails They Wished They'd Never Sent. Vocabulary: phrasal verbs. Writing: an informal email. Unit review. n Lesson 23
Unit 7 Quiz. Unit 8: A Matter of Taste lead in. Reading: gapped text The Great Taste Sensation. Vocabulary: food. n Lesson 24 Grammar: Speculating about the present and past. Listening: multiple matching. Speaking: use prompts to discuss restaurants. n Lesson 25 Use of English: Word formations Eat, Drink and Be Merry. Vocabulary: word pairs. Writing: a report. Unit 8 review. n Lesson 26 Unit 8 Quiz. Unit 9: Going to Extremes lead in. Reading: multiple-choice Against the Odds. Vocabulary: compound nouns. n Lesson 27 Grammar: relative clauses. Listening: sentence completion. Speaking: use prompts to discuss lifestyle and living spaces. n Lesson 28 Use of English: key word transformations. Vocabulary: body idioms. Writing: a letter. Unit review. n Lesson 29 Unit 9 Quiz. Unit 10: All in the Mind lead in. Reading: gapped text Genius. Vocabulary: mental activities. n Lesson 30 Grammar: Comparatives and superlatives. Listening: multiple matching. Speaking: use prompts to discuss phobias and fears. n Lesson 31 Use of English: word formation Are Geniuses Born or Made? Vocabulary: expressions with mind. Writing: a letter of application. Unit review. n Lesson 32 Unit 10 Quiz. Unit 11: Man and Machine lead in. Reading: multiple-choice The Gadget Generation. Vocabulary: Gadgets and their parts. n Lesson 33 Grammar: Conditionals. Listening: multiple-choice. Speaking: use photo prompts to discuss computers and gadgets.
n Lesson 34 Use of English: Open-cloze World Cup for Robots. Vocabulary: Compound nouns. Writing: A letter of complaint. Unit Review. n Lesson 35 Unit 11 Quiz. Unit 12: Make a difference lead in. Reading: multiple matching Performing Protests. Vocabulary: achievement and success. Grammar: Causative verbs have, make, let, and get. Listening: sentence completion. Speaking: use prompts to discuss environmental issues. n Lesson 36 Sample tests. Useful Links GRAMMAR http://www.englishpage.com Highly recommended. Wide selection of grammar exercises http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/grammar.htm A comprehensive selection of grammar exercises from the University of Victoria, Canada. Check out the home page for some reading exercises, too. http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/ A wide range of grammar quizzes at different levels. Includes some vocabulary and phrasal verbs practice. http://ww2.college-em.qc.ca/prof/epritchard/trouindx.htm ESL Blues offers interactive grammar exercises for elementary and intermediate students as well as explanations of common errors. http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com Grammar rules and exercises LISTENING PRACTICE http://www.esl-lab.com A selection of everyday conversations / listening quizzes at three levels of difficulty (American English) http://www.elllo.org/english/about.htm English Language Listening Lab online with over 1000 listening activities at different levels. Canadian, US, British, Irish, New Zealand and Australian accents. http://legacy.lclark.edu/~krauss/toppicks/listening.html Links to various sites where you can practice your listening. From Beginner to Advanced.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/btp Watch short video extracts on famous places in the UK and answer multiple choice questions. Advanced level. PODCASTS http://www.businessenglishpod.com/category/business-english/ Wide range of podcasts. http://www.listen-to-english.com Two short (3 to 5 minute) podcasts available every week, in clearly spoken English. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/index.shtml 6-Minute English. Podcasts for learners of English. Excellent resource. Transcripts available. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts A wide range of BBC podcasts (advanced level). http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/topics 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. http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/professions/ Interviews with famous writers, painters, filmmakers, musicians, scientists, sports personalities, etc. from the BBC archives. Advanced level ; no transcripts. SOCIAL ENGLISH http://australianetwork.com/livingenglish Australian TV series for elementary level students of English. Everyday situations such as expressing thanks, booking into a hotel, introducing people. 42 episodes with full transcript and notes. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/howto/ Listening practice and useful expressions: suggesting, advising, disagreeing, showing interest, etc. Intermediate level. VOCABULARY http://vocabulary.englishprofile.org/staticfiles/about.html A full six-level English Vocabulary Profile. This version covers levels A1-C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for British and American English. http://a4esl.org/q/h/vocabulary.html Vocabulary quizzes organized according to topic: clothes/occupations/nationalities, etc. and level (easy/medium/difficult). Has links to grammar, crosswords, etc. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/index.shtml Words in the News: listening and vocabulary development based on BBC news stories. http://www.englishpage.com/vocabulary/vocabulary.html Vocabulary building, practice tasks and follow-up exercises. Described as advanced but more
intermediate level, in fact. PHRASAL VERBS http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/ Interesting dictionary where you can look up a phrasal verb by preposition or by verb. Includes quizzes and worksheets. http://www.phrasalverbdemon.com Phrasal verbs dictionary, examples, practice exercises & listening. Good for lower levels, too. http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/phrasal-verbs/quizzes-verbs.html Now offering quizzes on 134 phrasal verbs. Answer keys available. http://www.englishdaily626.com/biz-idioms.php?002 Business idioms PRONUNCIATION HTTP://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/WORLDSERVICE/LEARNINGENGLISH/GRAMMAR/PRON/ General pronunciation tips and practical exercises. http://www.shiporsheep.com/ Good practice exercises on minimal pairs: e.g. sherry/cherry; pen / pain. READING http://www.thebigproject.co.uk/news/ Direct access to a very wide range of UK, US and other online newspapers in English. http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/index.htm Reading texts and exercises from Upper Beginner to Advanced levels. Very easy to navigate. http://www.esl-lounge.com/student/reading.php Scroll down to the blue box where you will find four levels of reading exercises. http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/ Thousands of articles with useful comprehension and vocabulary exercises. http://www.eyercize.com/practice/paste_read Speed reading techniques. Paste your own text in or have one selected for you. http://www.unepd.info/index.html 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 http://www.unejn.org/documents/lme/eworkbook_units/eworkbook.htm United Nations English Language program (New York): online materials for practicing letters, memos & e-mails.
http://www.plainenglish.co.uk A simple, practical guide to the principles of plain English. Check out the Free Guides. https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/678/01/ Writing guide MISCELLANEOUS http://www.cambridgeenglish.org You ll find a wide range of free learning resources and exam preparation materials to help you develop your language skills and prepare you for your exam. http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish BBC gateway site with news, grammar, vocabulary, quizzes, pronunciation. Highly recommended. http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish.htm British Council gateway site with themes, stories, tests, games, etc. for adults and children Mandatory Reading Davies, P., Falla, T. (2014), Cambridge English First Result Student s Book with Online Practice, Cambridge University Press. Davies, P., Falla, T. (2014), Cambridge English First Result Workbook Resource Pack with Key, Cambridge University Press.