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 1 KET 3.0 246-380 - 1 Level 2 B1 2 PET 4.0 500-650 57-86 3 Level 3 B2 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 1. 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, : 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, B2: 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 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 2
CEFR Reading & Writing Level 1 UNIT 1: Character CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Previewing texts: using title, headings, photos, etc.; a psychology survey (p8) Using pronouns to replace a noun; text about superheroes (p10) I can understand the main points in texts, especially when they are accompanied by images. + Writing topic sentences (p13) The simple present tense (p14) Using examples to find meaning: for example, for instance, such as, like (p12) I can use the simple present tense in affirmative and negative forms to talk about facts and routines. UNIT 2: Time CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Identifying the author s purpose; tips about time management (p19) Skimming (p20) I can find key information in a range of text types. Understanding sentence patterns, subject, verb, direct or I can use correct syntax in basic sentences, including subject, verb, and object order. indirect object, etc. (p23) Verbs followed by infinitives and gerunds (p24) I can understand and use the different verb patterns of verb + infinitive and verb + gerund. Organizing new words: nouns and verbs (p22) PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 3
CEFR UNIT 3: Home CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Highlighting texts; text about nomads (p28) Annotating texts; text about home automation (p30) I can find key information in a range of text types and annotate and make notes on them. Brainstorming word maps (p33) There is/are (+ quantifier) + noun (p34) I can use there is/there are, with quantifiers and nouns, e.g., There s an administration office next to the sports hall. / There are a lot of European students in my class. Using explanations to find meaning (p32) UNIT 4: Size CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Predicting content from clues and knowledge; text about marine life (p38) Making inferences; text about Singapore (p40) I can understand the main points in a descriptive text and anticipate themes and language by using my own knowledge, and clues such as images. Writing compound sentences (p43) I can link ideas with simple connectors, e.g., and, but, and because. The present progressive tense (p44) I can understand and use the present progressive/continuous tense, e.g., Oh no, it s raining again. / I am studying every day. Using definitions to find meaning (p42) UNIT 5: Patterns CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Determining main ideas and supporting details; text about habits (p48) Taking notes; text about the Fibonacci sequence (p50) I can understand the key points in a simple speech, and use strategies such as anticipating and organizing ideas, and using knowledge and images as clues. PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 4 A1 A1
CEFR Using end punctuation and capitalization (p53) Giving advice and making suggestions: should, need to, I can use modal verbs to give advice, e.g., You should get some more advice about that. have to (p54) Adding prefixes for negation (p52) UNIT 6: Speed CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Distinguishing facts from opinions; text about the Slow Movement (p58) Identifying tone, attitude, and opinion; text about the Tarahumara (p60) I can understand how tone can affect the style of a text. C1+ Using commas and colons (p63) Comparative forms of adjectives and adverbs (p64) I can use comparative adjectives to make comparisons, e.g., Shanghai looks more modern than twenty years ago. Organizing new words: adjectives and adverbs (p62) UNIT 7: Vision CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Scanning; text about optical illusions (p68) Using a chart to organize your notes, to compare and contrast information; text about flags (p70) I can find key information in a range of text types. Writing complete sentences from fragments (p73) I can understand when sentences are not complete structures and produce complete, grammatically correct simple sentences. + PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 5
CEFR Count and noncount nouns (p74) I can differentiate between and use countable and non-countable nouns, e.g., She doesn t have any books in her house. / Would you like some coffee? Adding suffixes to change verbs into nouns (p72) UNIT 8: Extremes CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Finding similarities and differences, comparing and contrasting; text about ocean exploration (p78) Identifying the source and genre of a text; text about a Sherpa (p80) I can understand comparative language to describe similarities and differences. Using transitions words to add and emphasize information, I can use connecting words to link ideas and to add emphasis. B1 in addition, moreover, also, clearly, etc. (p83) Expressing ability, can, could, be able to (p84) I can use modal verbs can and could to talk about ability. Understanding compound words (p82) UNIT 9: Life CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Summarizing; text about coming of age (p88) Identifying reasons: because, due to, since, as; text about I can summarize simple texts and identify key points. + gardening in space (p90) Using transitions to sequence events: before, after, while, etc. (p93) I can use sequencing words to put ideas in order. PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 6
CEFR The simple past tense (p94) I can use the simple past tense, e.g., I checked the meaning in a dictionary. Finding the correct definition of a word and determining the part of speech (p92) UNIT 10: Work CEFR Descriptor CEFR Level Sequencing events; story The Farmer s Lazy Son (p98) Reading charts and graphs; text about robots (p100) I can understand the main ideas in a piece of simplified literature especially if there is visual support. Using parallel structure (p103) Future forms: will (p104) I can use will to talk about future events, e.g., I ll tell you the result. Using collocations (p102) I can use collocations with adjectives. B1-C1 PHOTOCOPIABLE Skillful Level 1. This page is photocopiable, but all copies must be complete pages. Copyright Macmillan Publishers Limited 2016. 7