Montevideo FCE Syllabus 2017 follow us
Course Description FCE is a highly flexible and engaging course combining general language and skills development with exam preparation. It is designed for teenagers, adults and young adults who have achieved an upper intermediate level of English. Lessons are held twice a week for 2 hours per class. Furthermore, during the last three months of the term students are given the opportunity to attend (free of charge) extra classes which will give them practice in all the skills required to achieve a satisfactory performance in the final examination (Cambridge FCE or IH B2 level). Suggested Course Materials Ready for First 3rd Edition Coursebook - by Roy Norris. Macmillan Ready for First 3rd Edition Workbook - by Roy Norris. Macmillan First Testbuilder for the revised exam 2015 - Macmillan Language Practice for First 5th Edition - by Michael Vince. Macmillan First Practice Tests Book 1 (For updated exam from January 2015). CUP Set books: from 2015 there will be no more set texts for Cambridge English: First, so we will keep 2014 s as an example of possible books to be read to complement the course. The set text for Cambridge English: First for Schools can be found below: - First for Schools: The Eagle of the Ninth - by Rosemary Sutcliff Course aims Promote English language learning by using topic-based activities which are central to the immediate interests of students. This course optimises pre-exam revision time, focusing on key language areas and practical tips on how to approach the different exam papers.
Course Assessment Written assessments: will be held in May and August (mock exam). The final written exam can be the Cambridge English: First or the IH B2 level. All written tests will include the following three sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing and Listening. ollowing sections: Reading and Use of English, Writing and Listening comprehension. Oral assessments: will be held in May and August. The main emphasis of these evaluations is on communication. Students will take these tests in groups of two or three. The assessment will consist of four sections: an interview (answering basic personal questions), a picture-based individual long turn, a collaborative task and a general discussion based on the topic of the collaborative task. Providing plenty of practice in class is essential. Class work, homework: will be taken into account as part of the course for teachers to judge students work and progress throughout the course. Reports: teachers will write a report after each examination period. In them, they will include the speaking and written papers results (in marks out of 40 each, with a grand total of 200), an overall percentage with the corresponding concept (see chart below) and a comment for the student about his/her performance. Promotion: Promotion will depend on the mark of the final assessment. The marking scheme will be: Marking scheme: Passing grades 80-100% 75-79.5% 60-74.5% Failing grades 45-59.5% 0-44.5% Grade A Grade B Grade C Council of Europe level B2 Fail Students who do not achieve a passing mark in the final assessment will be given a chance to sit for it again in February. Attendance Policy In order to fulfil attendance requirements, students should attend at least 80% of the total number of lessons.
The Cambridge English: First exam Cambridge English: First (FCE) is a test of all areas of language ability. The updated exam (for exam sessions from January 2015) is made up of four papers developed to test candidates English language skills. You can see exactly what s in each paper below. The Speaking test is taken face-to-face, with two candidates and two examiners. This creates a more realistic and reliable measure of candidates ability to use English to communicate. Exam format at a glance: PAPER CONTENT MARKS PURPOSE (% OF TOTAL) Reading and Use of English (1hr 15 min) 7 parts / 52 questions 40% Shows candidates can deal confidently with different types of text, such as fiction, newspapers and magazines. Tests their use of English with tasks that show how well they can control their grammar and vocabulary. Writing (1hr 20 min) 2 parts 20% Requires candidates to produce two different pieces of writing, such as letters, reports, reviews and essays. Listening (About 40 min) 4 parts / 30 questions 20% Requires candidates to be able to follow and understand a range of spoken materials, such as news programmes, presentations and everyday conversations. Speaking (14 mins per pair of candidates) 4 parts 20% Tests candidates ability to communicate effectively in face-to-face situations. They will take the Speaking test with one or two other candidates.
FCE is an exam for people who can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level. It is an ideal exam for people who want to use English for work or study purposes. FCE is at Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) an internationally recognised benchmark of language ability. For example, at B2 level, typical users can be expected to: understand the main ideas of complex pieces of writing keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics, expressing opinions and presenting arguments produce clear, detailed writing, expressing opinions and explaining the advantages and disadvantages of different points of view. Preparation for FCE will provide candidates with practical language skills such as: - Listening / Speaking: CAN follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics. - Reading: CAN follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep up a conversation on a fairly wide range of topics. - Writing: CAN make notes while someone is talking or write a letter including non-standard requests.
Calendar - 2017 ASSESSMENT HOLIDAYS PARENTS MEETING SPECIAL EVENTS (KIDS TO CH3) LIBRARY March 8th 9th April 10th April 15th April April April 17th May 1st May 22th May 17th 18th May 24th 25th June June 5th / 9th June 3rd to July 8th July 18th August 5th August 12th August 16th 17th August 23rd 24th August 25th August 28th /September 1st September 18th - 23rd October 16th October 27th November 2nd October 30th - November 16th November November 29th 30th December 6th 7th December 11th 15th Start of classes Easter Use of the Library begins IH Club May Oral Assessment May Written Assessment Theatre 1st parents meeting Winter Holiday Cambridge Mock Exams: FCE, CAE, CPE Cambridge Mock Exams: KET, PET August Oral Assessment August Written Assessment 2nd parents meeting/ International Exams meeting Spring Holidays Halloween Celebration Open Classes Kids to CH3 Use of the library finishes Final Oral Assessment Final Written Assessment 3rd Parents Meeting
EXAM PRACTICE GRAMMAR FUNCTIONS LEXIS WRITING TOPICS (Based on Ready for FCE) Reading and Use of English Multiple choice lexical cloze The main focus is on vocabulary, e.g. idioms, collocations, fixed phrases, complementation, phrasal verbs, semantic precision. Open cloze The main focus is on awareness and control of grammar with some focus on vocabulary. Word formation The main focus is on vocabulary, in particular the use of affixation, internal changes and compounding in word formation. Key word transformation Focus on grammar, vocabulary and collocation. Multiple choice: Understanding detail, opinion, attitude, tone, purpose, main idea, gist, meaning from context, implication, text organisation features (exemplification, reference). Gapped text - sentences Understanding coherence, cohesion and text structure. Multiple matching Scanning and locating information in a text: detail, opinion, specific information, implication - Habitual behaviour: tend to; frequency adverbs; used to and would - Be used to, get used to and used to - Indirect ways of asking questions - Gerunds and infinitives. - Comparisons - Articles - So and Such. - Past tenses: Past simple, Past continuous and used to; Past perfect simple and continuous. - Ways of expressing obligation, necessity and permission - Noun phrases - Defining and non-defining relative clauses - Causative passive with have and get - Present perfect simple and continuous - Expressing preferences - Future forms and time linkers. - Modal verbs for speculation and deduction - Question tags - Contrast linkers - Too and enough. - Passives - Passive of reporting verbs - so, neither and nor - Conditionals. - Countable and uncountable nouns. - Reported speech - Reporting verbs - Reported questions - Hypothetical situations - Family and personal information (Paper 5 part 1) - Comparing free-time activities and hobbies. (Paper 5 part 2) - Types of holidays. Deciding on an end-of-year trip. (Paper 5, part 3) - Turn taking. - Favourite dishes and healthy eating. (Paper 5, part 4) - Supporting your opinion. - Reasons for studying abroad. (Paper 5, part 1). - Environmental threats. Your area in 20 years time. - Useful phrases and vocabulary (Paper 5, part 2) - Suitable jobs for students. Suggesting, agreeing and disagreeing, asking opinions. (Paper 5, part 3) - Working together as volunteers. - Adventure sports and danger in sports. - Introducing an opinion, explanation or example. (Paper 5, part 4). - TV tastes. Likes and dislikes (Paper 5, part 1) - Things that make you happy. Speculating, using vocabulary. (Paper 5, part 3) - Talking with foreign visitors about shopping. - Teenage spending and pocket money. - Who does the shopping? - Lifestyles. - Get: expressions and meanings. - Clothes - Music - Sport - Technology. - Films - Take: expressions and phrasal verbs - The world of work. - Phrasal verbs - Describing people. - Shopping - Paraphrasing. - Towns and villages - Sleep - Travel - Phrasal verbs - Ways of looking Give: expressions and phrasal verbs - Crime and punishment. - Paraphrasing - Phrasal verbs - Weather - Put: expressions and phrasal verbs - Food and drink. - Health matters. - The Arts. - Paraphrasing and recording - Animals - Verbs followed by prepositions - Phrasal verbs with turn. - Make and do. Part 1 Writing essays on a range of topics, e.g. the environment. Focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a statement, giving information, giving opinion Part 2 - Informal emails or letters: replying to a request for information, making suggestions and invitations, giving advice. - Formal emails or letters: application, complaint, transactional. - Articles about a range of topics, e.g. free-time activities. - Reviews: films, books, gadgets, restaurants. - Using descriptive adjectives. - Essays on a range of topics, e.g. the environment - Linkers and sequencers. - Reports, e.g. on sports activities in your area. - Formal and informal styles. - Lifestyle - High Energy - A change for the better? - A good story - Doing whatever you have to - Relative relationships - Value for money - Up and away - Mystery and imagination - Nothing but the truth - What on Earth s going on? - Looking after yourself - Animal magic - Mind your language On-line resources. Grammar: http://www.oup.com/elt/ http://www.eslgold.com/ grammar.html/ http://www.clarity.com.hk/ program/studyskills.htm Vocabulary: http://www.oup.com/elt/ http://www.lextutor.ca/ tests/ http://www.englishlearning. com/en/8in1.html http://www.vocaboly.com/ http://www.easyesol.com/ http://www2.rosettastone. com/en/ http://iteslj.org.cw/ http://www.lingonet.com/ http://www.vocabster.com http://www.pearsondigital. com/ellis/ Communication skills: http://www.tesol.net/ penpals/ Exam practice: http://www.flo-joe.co.uk/fce http://www.cambridgeesol. org
EXAM PRACTICE GRAMMAR FUNCTIONS LEXIS WRITING TOPICS (Based on Ready for FCE) - Prepositions and gerunds - Compound adjectives - Expressing purpose - Ability - Speculating (Paper 5, part 2). - Being healthy. - Health issues (Paper 5, part 4) - Roles of animals in our lives. Dangerous animals. (Paper 5, part 1) - Choosing where to live. Describing somewhere you have lived. Different places to live (Paper 5, part 2) - Festivals. Turn-taking (Paper 5, part 3)