General English Advanced CEFR Level: C1/C2

General English Advanced

CEFR Level: C1/C2

Author of the syllabus: Nicole E. Schwab Email: nicole@ca-institute.com

Phone:

+420 773 994 129

Coordinator: Erik L. Dostal Email: erik@ca-institute.com Phone: +420 776 178 333 Signature and stamp:

General English Advanced

Syllabus M-F Open

Course duration: 36 lessons 90 minutes each  

CEFR Level – C1/C2

CEFR start: B2+ CEFR end: C2

Overview

CA Institute’s General English courses are designed for students who are seeking to further expand their understanding and fluency in the English language.

End-of-course “CAN DO” statements

nI can talk about work, personality, family, and language terminology. Use discourse markers, pronouns, and the verb have.

nI can talk about the past, time, and relationships. Vocabulary word building and abstract nouns. Phrases to do with get. Narrative tenses, distancing in speech and writing. Write an article.

nI can talk about sounds and noises, books and films, and money. Methods of speculation and deduction, adding emphasis, inversion, and unreal uses of the past. Write a review.

nI can talk about history, self-help, wealth and affluence. Vocabulary of warfare, compound adjectives, and phone language. Write a discursive essay.

nI can understand with ease virtually everything heard and read.

nI can summarize information from different spoken and written sources.

nI can express myself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely differentiating finer shades of meaning even in

Materials

New English File

Advanced Student's book New English File

Resource book/Teacher's book

New English File Advanced workbook

Other resources

Film, documentaries, TV, projector, internet, dictionaries, special projects

Milestones

nI can use phone language; adjectives+prepositions. I can use verbs of the senses and properly use gerunds and infinitives.

nI can express future plans and arrangements.

nI can add emphasis and can distinguish between words that are often confused.

Prerequisites

Upper-Intermediate understanding of English – B2 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  

Weekend courses Intensives

Movie night

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

1A: Reading I didn't Get Where I am Today without... Lexis on context. Grammar: Discourse markers and linkers. Discussion of who and what motivates the students. Speaking and Listening Working where the Grass is Always Greener. Complete a work survey. Work vocabulary. Speaking about work.

n Lesson 3

1B: Reading and Speaking: Personality quiz. Lexis in context. Grammar: have. Song: The Logical Song. Listening and Speaking Family of Carlos IV. Family vocabulary. Rhythm and intonation when agreeing and disagreeing. Debate several family-related issues.

1C:Reading and Speaking Whose Language? Lexis in context. Grammar: Pronouns. Speaking about learning English.

n Lesson 5

1C: Listening and speaking: Interview with Cristina and Zoltan. Language terminology. Language quiz. Sound-spelling relationships. Writing: A letter of application. Analyzing and model text, planning what to write, writing.

n Lesson 6

Colloquial English: Family secrets. Unit 1 revision. n Lesson 7

Unit 1 test. 2A: Reading When We Were Young. Lexis in context. Grammar: narrative tenses, used to and would. Writing and speaking about childhood.

n Lesson 8

2A: Listening and speaking about childhood memory and the psychology of memory making. Vocabulary: abstract nouns and word building.

n Lesson 9

2B: Reading and speaking Multi-tasking. Lexis in context. Grammar: distancing. 2B:

Pronunciation and listening The Time Bandits. Linking words in speech. Vocabulary expressions with time. Speaking: a time questionnaire.

n Lesson 10

2C: Reading and speaking Getting your own back. Lexis in context. Pronunciation: words of French origin. Vocabulary: phrases with get. Song: 50 Ways to Leave your Lover. 2C: Speaking and listening Love by Numbers. Lexis in context. Grammar: get. Get questionnaire.

n Lesson 11

Writing: an article. Analyzing a model text, planning what to write, writing. Colloquial English: Time and technology. Listening to several interviews. Unit 2 review.

n Lesson 12

3A: Vocabulary and writing Office Sounds. Vocabulary: Sounds and the human voice. Pronunciation: consonant clusters. Listening and speaking Sound Business. 3A Grammar: speculation and deduction. Reading and speaking Breaking the Silence. Lexis in context. Writing a response to the article.

n Lesson 13

3B Reading First and Last Lines quiz. Vocabulary and speaking: describing books. Grammar: adding emphasis, inversion.

n Lesson 14

3B Pronunciation: words with silent syllables. Reading Lost in Translation. Lexis in context. Listening Interview with a Translator. Writing a short translation.

n Lesson 15

3C Reading and speaking The Sick Society. Questionnaire and discussion. Money vocabulary. n Lesson 16

Unit 3 test. 4A The Scenes you'll Never Forget. Vocabulary: history and warfare. Speaking and writing: describing a film. 3C Reading I Wish Had Married for Money. Lexis in context. Grammar: unreal uses of the past tense. Listening: Relationship between Money and Happiness. Song: A Lady of a Certain Age. Writing: A review. Analyzing a model text, planning what to write, writing. n Lesson 17

Colloquial English: Women and Money. Listening to several interviews. Unit 3 review.Unit 3 test. 4A The Scenes you'll Never Forget. Vocabulary: history and warfare. Speaking and writing: describing a film.4A: Reading History goes to the Movies. Lexis in context. Listening and speaking: Interview with a film critic. Grammar: Discourse markers, adverbial expressions. n Lesson 18

Mid-term exam. n Lesson 19

4B Reading and Speaking: The Persuaders. Grammar: verb+object+infinitive or gerund. Intonation in polite requests.

n Lesson 20

4B Listening and speaking: Self-help books. Lexis in context. Vocabulary: compound adjectives. n Lesson 21

4C Vocabulary and listening: Phone quiz. My Life is out of my Hands. Sounds and spelling. Grammar: conditional sentences.

n Lesson 22

4C Reading Are We Hooked on Addiction? Lexis in context. Vocabulary:

adjectives+prepositions. Listening and speaking: talking about obsessions. Song: Addicted to Love Writing: a discursive essay, a balanced argument. Analyzing a model text, planning what to write, writing.

n Lesson 23

n Lesson 24

5A Vocabulary: Word formations with focus on prefixes. Focus on intonation in exclamations. Grammar: Permission, obligation and necessity. Reading

n Lesson 25

5B Verbs of senses. How to write a report. Speaking: Art and artists. How to give extra stress on important words.

n Lesson 26

5C Grammar: Gerunds and infinitives. Reading on health and medicine. Review unit 5 n Lesson 27

6A Express future plans and arrangements. Speaking and vocabulary around travel and tourism. Game with homophones.

n Lesson 28

6B Pets and pests. Punctuation in writing. How to write a discursive essay: taking sides. Weak and strong pronunciation of auxiliary verbs and to.

n Lesson 29

6C Grammar: cleft sentences. Vocabulary game on often confused words. Speaking exercise on encounters with animals. Review Unit 6

n Lesson 30

7A Grammar: nouns-compound and possessive forms (game). Vocab: preparing food n Lesson 31

7B –ed adjective endings and linking. So vs such. Jokes. Humor n Lesson 32

7C Comparisons. Write a letter of complaint. n Lesson 33

Speaking exercises: Cooking around the world. n Lesson 34

Review of all previous units in preparation for end of course exam. n Lesson 35

End of course exam. n Lesson 36

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

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://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.

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.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

Latham-Koenig, C. Oxenden, C. (2010), New English File Advanced Student’s Book, Oxford University Press.