1 UNITED NATIONS ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAMME LPE English Duration: This course is held twice a week, 1.5 hours a class, for 13 weeks (Please check posted schedule for dates and time). Objectives/ Learning Outcomes: Participants use proficiency-type tests to identify those elements of communicative performance that need improvement. Review and exercises that target problem areas are given as required. Strategies for taking all sections of the English LPE Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar, the Composition and the taped Interview are presented and practised. Through the presentation and practice of proficiency test-taking strategies and teacher encouragement, participants gain confidence and reduce levels of test anxiety. This course will provide participants with the opportunity to: Demonstrate test-taking strategies for the objective sections of the English Language Proficiency Examination, as well as for the oral and written expression sections Reduce the level of anxiety associated with examinations through confidence building, and test-taking practice. Course Description: This course focuses on preparing UN staff members who will write the LPE English Exam. The courses cover all language skills that the test taker will need in order to be successful: reading, writing, listening, speaking, vocabulary and grammar. Authentic texts from UN documents and sources are used together with customized materials that have been designed by UNHQ. In addition, we also rely on materials from other standardized English exams such as the TOEFL and IELTS to provide our trainees with increased exposure to test taking techniques and strategies. In class, participants are taught to plan their time in order to complete all sections of the exam within the given time limit. Their written assignments are corrected and their errors are explained to them so that they will learn from their mistakes. Attention is paid to proper writing techniques and structure, and students are taught to first plan before they start writing. In class, we cover a number of different topics as well as style of writing. Grammar exercises are given in order to reinforce what they have learned in class and to strengthen their weak areas. We cover all advanced grammar topics including verb tenses, if clauses, parts of speech, punctuation, sentence structure etc. For vocabulary, we examine key Latin-Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes Last Update: January 2017 Page 1
2 to help students expand their vocabulary. There are also weekly vocabulary quizzes to help reinforce what they have learned and to ensure that they can remember words that they already studied. For speaking, students talk about themselves, their work, and their family. We also discuss current events and the latest developments in the world. They are reminded that they are not allowed to mention their names, specific information and/or where they come from (country of origin). Certain discussions are recorded, and the teacher identifies and analyzes the participants spoken errors. Attention is also paid to developing the students grasp of oral English with the introduction of idioms and spoken expressions. Thus, students are given a variety of sheets and materials from a number of different sources. They are also asked to read as much as possible in order to help them develop their reading and vocabulary skills. Homework is given on a weekly basis, and participants are expected to spend at least 3-5 hours outside of class each week revising. They may also borrow additional books and resources that are available from the Learning Centre and the UNESCAP Library. We also introduce them to a wealth of online resources that they may access for free during their free time. In conclusion, the capacity to deal with material which is academic or cognitively demanding, and to use language to good effect at a level of performance which may in certain respects be more advanced than that of an average native speaker. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages Equivalent: C1 (Effective operational proficiency or advanced) Lesson Plan for LPE ENGLISH WEEK # TOPICS ACTIVITIES/ ASSIGNMENTS Week 1 Introductions and Expectations: o Why are you taking this course? o What do you know or have heard about the LPE? Go over the LPE Exam, look at the Composition Rating Scale and Oral Rating Scale. Complete the "Grammar Pretest" (pages 76-77) from The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation by Activity: Self-Introductions Students fill in a Student Profile and Needs Assessment Sheet. 1. Prepare a short 2-5 minute presentation and explain why you're special (what makes you unique and different from Last Update: January 2017 Page 2
3 Jane Straus. Go over the answers and discuss the grammar. Discuss the importance of grammar on the LPE exam. Write a letter to the instructor covering the following points: o Short introduction (where you work etc.) o Reasons for taking this class o Strengths and weaknesses in English o Plans for studying English (in order to prepare for the LPE exam). Peer edit the letter. What mistakes did you find in your colleague s work? How can the letter be improved? Start LPE Practice Test 1: English at the UN, grammar section. other people). There is no need to prepare any Power Point slides. 2. Work on the LPE Practice Test 1, grammar and vocabulary section. Week 2 Do the individual presentations: Why I m special. Go over the LPE Practice Test 1, grammar and vocabulary sections. Complete the LPE Pratice Test 1, Reading section (Texts A, B and C) in class. Go over the answers, discuss new vocabulary words and expressions (write them on the board). Look at the Confusing Words sheet from The Vocabulary Teacher s Book of Lists, page 104. expressions. 2. Prepare for a vocabulary quiz next class. 3. Rewrite your first writing assignment and submit it the instructor by next week. Make sure you understand all of the mistakes you made and correct them. The first assignment was to write a short essay introducing yourself and explaining why you re taking this course. 4. Schedule a Speaking Pretest with the instructor for next week (around 10 minutes Last Update: January 2017 Page 3
4 each). Week 3 Individual speaking pre-test with each student. Around 10-12 minutes per student. The conversation will be recorded and will be based on three to four general questions. Vocabulary quiz Start the vocabulary and grammar sections of LPE Practice Test 2. If time permits, go over the answers in class. If not, do so next week. Introduce students to noun clauses, adj. clauses and adverb clauses. expressions. 2. Prepare for a vocabulary quiz next class. 3. Complete LPE Practice Test 2, reading sections for next week. Come to class with questions about vocabulary and content. 4. Write a summary about ONE of the three texts from the LPE Practice Test 2. Week 4 Go over LPE Practice Test 2. Continue with Confusing Words, page 105. Do Listening Activity (taken from IELTS, IGCSE ESL or TOEFL). Practice conversations and lectures. Allow students to listen to each audio clip twice. Students should take notes and pay attention to the overall message as well as specific details. Go over the answers and discuss. Answer questions about vocabulary. expressions. 2. Prepare for a vocabulary quiz next class. 3. Listen to some radio news (online or on the radio) from Voice of America, BBC or other news outlets. Take notes and come to class to retell/summarize one news story you heard. Last Update: January 2017 Page 4
5 Week 5 Mini-presentations on news. What did you listen to last week? Short vocabulary quiz. Write an email to your instructor about what you've learned in our class over the past few weeks. o Explain what skill(s) you were able to improve, o what problems you still face and what you would like to focus more on in the coming weeks. The email should be at least half a page, but ideally around one page. Time limit: around 50 minutes, including time for taking notes. 1. Prepare for LPE Practice Test (Mid-term exam) next week. Week 6 LPE Practice Test 3/MID-TERM EXAMINATION (do all sections except listening) plus one writing question. Do one-on-one Speaking test while other students do the written exam. Tests will cover both classes (3 hours) 1. Rewrite your email assignment and submit it to the instructor by next week. Make sure you understand all of the mistakes you made and correct them. 2. Continue with Confusing Words pages 106-107. Week 7 Go over the Mid-Term exam (LPE Practice Test 3). Focus on grammar by reviewing the following topics: 1. Complete LPE Practice Test 4, Reading (all texts) and the vocabulary sections. Last Update: January 2017 Page 5
6 Week 8 o Verb tenses (including ifclauses), o Passive and Active voices, o Parts of speech, o Transition words (sentence patterns),and o Use of commas and other punctuation marks. Complete LPE Practice Test 4, Grammar section. Go over answers. Go over LPE Practice Test 4, all sections. Do a vocabulary quiz, focusing on Confusing Words. Introduce students to roots, prefixes and suffixes using the NIDA Language Center worksheet. Do Listening Activity (taken from IELTS, IGCSE ESL or TOEFL). Practice conversations and lectures. Allow students to listen to each audio clip twice. Students should take notes and pay attention to the overall message as well as specific details. Go over the answers and discuss. Answer questions about vocabulary. 2. Review vocabulary for a quiz. 1. Go to www.phobialist.com and peruse the list of phobias. Choose five that are most interesting to you to share with the class. Try to analyze the roots of the words. 2. Review vocabulary and prepare for a quiz. Complete the worksheet from NIDA Language Center. 3. Writing task: LPE Writing Topic 1: These days, people live much longer than they used to. Discuss the benefits of living longer and the problems it can cause. Last Update: January 2017 Page 6
7 Week 9 Week 10 Oral Presentation: Interesting Phobias. Do speaking practice in class (pair work). Students share their written tasks in class by reading what they have written aloud. Do Listening Activity (taken from IELTS, IGCSE ESL or TOEFL). Practice conversations and lectures. Allow students to listen to each audio clip twice. Students should take notes and pay attention to the overall message as well as specific details. Go over the answers and discuss. Answer questions about vocabulary. Start LPE Practice Test 5, grammar and vocabulary sections. Complete LPE Practice Test 5 Reading section in class. Go over the answers. Do vocabulary quiz. Do in-class writing (50 minutes): Nowadays a balance between life and work quality is sought. What sort of measures do you think could be introduced in your workplace to increase the quality and balance of life and work. prepare for a quiz. 2. Rewrite LPE Writing Topic 1. Submit it to the instructor by next week. Make sure you understand all of the mistakes you made and correct them. prepare for a quiz. 2. Work on the worksheet from NIDA Language Center. 3. Work on LPE Practice Test 6, grammar and vocabulary sections. Week 11 Go over LPE Practice Test 6, grammar and vocabulary sections. Complete LPE Practice Test 6, reading section in class. Review for the final Examination / Review and integration of key targets 1. Review for the final Examination Last Update: January 2017 Page 7
8 Go over the topics covered during the previous weeks Question and Answer Time Week 12 Written Examination (LPE Practice Test 7) plus writing section (50 minutes) Do one-on-one Speaking tests while other students do the written exam. Tests will cover both classes (3 hours) Week 13 Continue with one-on-one Speaking tests if necessary. Give back the examination results and go over the correct answer. Instructor-- Student Consultations Course Wrap-up Written Examination End of the course ************************* Last Update: January 2017 Page 8