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: http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/z243%20e%26e%20equals%20 BROCHURErevised6.pdf 2. EAQUALS Bank of Descriptors as checklists: http://clients.squareeye.net/uploads/eaquals2011/eaquals_bank_as_checklists.pdf 3. The Council of Europe Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment: http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/source/framework_en.pdf 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 www.coe.int/lang-cefr for further information. Overview chart of Skillful level correlations to other level/grade systems: LEVEL TOEFL ibt TOEIC IELTS UCLES ALTE CEFR Foundation A1 0-2.0 0-245 - - Level 1 A2 1 KET 3.0 246-380 - 1 Level 2 B1 2 PET 4.0 500-650 57-86 3 Level 3 3 FCE 5.0 650-720 87-109 4 Level 4 C1 4 CAE 6.0-7.0 720-910 110-120 5 PTE PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 1
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 http://www.englishprofile.org/the-cefr, copyright Council of Europe 2001) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 2
CEFR Listening & Speaking Level 3 UNIT 1: Identity CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for main ideas: key words (p8) Recognizing phrases used to introduce examples; ID recognition (p10) I can understand the main ideas of more complex and extended speech on concrete and abstract topics and identify signposts that indicate the structure and organization of the speech. Expressing interest in ideas you hear (p13) I can respond to and generate further input from other speakers to help to keep a discussion going. Conjunctions: coordinators and subordinators (p12) I can use connecting words expressing cause and effect, contrast, etc. B1- Suffixes (p11) UNIT 2: Design CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for rhetorical questions (p19) Listening for bias (p21) Giving examples (p24) I can support points in an extended turn with suitable examples. Defining relative clauses (p23) I can use defining relative clauses, e.g., He was the man who invented the underwater bicycle. B1+ PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 3
CEFR Word families (p22) American and British English: collocations with have (p22) UNIT 3: Thought CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for summaries (p28) Listening for reasons and explanations (p30) Giving reasons: because, as, since (p33) I can summarize information and points in an extended presentation, and listen for cue expressions such as to summarize, overview, and to sum up. I can participate in reaching a decision in formal or informal discussion, offering reasons to support my ideas. Adverb clauses of concession, reduced adverb clauses of time (p32) I can use reduced adverb clauses of time, e.g., We often go to the lakes while visiting these islands. B1 Collocations with do and make (p31) UNIT 4: Fire CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for cues to distinguish facts and opinions (p39) Listening to understand a sequence of events: first, second, next, then, after that, eventually, etc. (p40) Changing the topic and returning to it (p44) I can understand an extended factual topic if it is explained in clear speech and identify some of the finer details. I can follow sequential linkers with past time such as first and finally. I can develop a discussion by stating that I understand, and I can invite others to make contributions to the talk. + B1+ A2 PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 4
CEFR Using stance markers: frankly, actually, as a matter of fact, to be honest, I can use attitudinal adverbs to express stance, e.g., Frankly, I m not interested in what he is saying. etc. (p43) Synonyms (p41) UNIT 5: Movement CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for similarities and differences: Unlike X,, Another similarity is, comparatives (p48) Listening for supporting statements (p50) I can follow extended, more complex talks including on academic topics, and can distinguish between the main ideas and the supporting ideas. Interrupting politely (p54) I can ask someone to elaborate on something they said in a polite and formal register. Noun clauses: embedded questions (p53) Words with several uses (p52) UNIT 6: Disease CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening to categorize information (p59) I can understand information in a radio show and follow the general organizational structure by listening to language cues. Listening to understand cause and effect relationships (p60) Asking to clarify or confirm ideas you hear (p64) I can ask someone to clarify or elaborate on something they said in a polite and formal register. B1 B1+ PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 5
CEFR Using modal auxiliaries in past passive sentences (p63) I can use modal verbs in past passive sentences, e.g., We might have been right after all. C1 Phrasal verbs (p62) I can use a variety of phrasal verbs. A2-C1 UNIT 7: Survival CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Using prior knowledge to predict the content of a presentation (p68) Listening for structure signals that connect ideas (p70) Contributing additional information to a discussion: as I understand, what I ve found, etc. (p74) I can follow extended, more complex talks including on academic topics, and can use my existing knowledge to anticipate language and themes in the talk. I can actively contribute to a discussion by expressing my opinions and other ideas clearly and convincingly in a formal register. The present unreal conditional (p73) I can use the third or unreal conditional and am able to use mixed conditional sentences. Learning word families after listening (p72) UNIT 8: Drive CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening to understand vocabulary from context (p79) Listening for note taking (p80) I can follow extended, more complex talks including on academic topics, and can track organizational structure of main ideas and identify supporting details. Making repairs, correcting errors (p84) I can naturally self-correct errors in my speech. PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 6
CEFR Making comparisons, the... the comparatives: the sooner the better, etc. (p82) I can use comparative adjectives and comparative structures. B1 Formal and informal language (p81) UNIT 9: Sound CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for organization and number signals: four reasons, three factors, etc. (p88) Listening to interpret the speaker s attitude (p91) Fielding questions during a presentation (p94) I can follow extended, more complex talks including on academic topics, and can track organizational structure of main ideas and identify supporting details. I can use appropriate discourse markers to structure formal speech and respond to other people s questions appropriately. Cleft sentences (p93) Word + preposition combinations, adjective/verb/noun + preposition (p92) UNIT 10: Tomorrow CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Listening for problems and solutions (p98) Recognizing definitions (p100) I can understand much of what is being said in an extended discussion on an academic topic, but may find it dfficult to understand all the exact details without clarification or expansion of ideas. Describing a word you do not know (p103) can generally cover gaps my vocabulary and grammar knowledge. The future perfect (p102) I can use the future perfect tense. Prefixes and suffixes with special meanings (p101) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 3. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 7