getting ready for c1 english tests
TRANSCRIPT
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Methodology
• Real materials • Free resources • Writing down, recording • Making the most of time
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1. What’s my level of English? 2. Structure of exams, samples 3. Reading 4. Listening 5. Writing 6. Speaking 7. Vocabulary / grammar
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» https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/examenes-nivel-b1-y-b2-ingles-validos-en-aragon-fechas-modelos-de-
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Check your level http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/cual-es-mi-nivel-en-un-idioma/
• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
• DIALANG / DIALANG web
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Other tests• https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2015/01/21/
duolingo-test-center-cual-es-mi-nivel-de-ingles/
• http://www.britishcouncil.org/aptis/preparation-material (Aptis, British Council certificate)
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be able to… •understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts,
and recognise implicit meaning. •express themselves fluently and spontaneously without
much obvious searching for expressions. •use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic
and professional purposes. •produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex
subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
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PAPER TOTAL MARKS
PASS MARK
reading comprehension 20 12
listening comprehension 20 12
written expression / interaction (writing)
20 12
oral expression / interaction (speaking)
20 12
EOI
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EEOOII- official documents
» information for candidates (2015)» ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
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sample tests / past papers
» past papers (1)(Aragón) » compilation of sample tests and past tests (whole of
Spain)
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CAE (Cambridge English: Advanced)
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further training resources for CAE
» http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/cambridge-english-advanced-handbook-2015.pdf
» http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams/advanced/preparation/
» http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/learning-english/activities-for-learners/?rows=12 (all skills, all levels)
» http://www.examenglish.com/CAE/index.php » http://www.flo-joe.com/cae/students/index.htm
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• making notes, underlining, highlighting—-> incorporating expressions into your vocabulary
• text types: • news • literary • academic
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• Read the questions first • Highlight/ underline / circle the fragment where the
answer may be found
• Be sure you really understand • all 3/4 options: only one of them is the best. • the question (beware of negatives, opposites…)
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http://elpais.com/elpais/inenglish.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/- http://www.theguardian.com/uk/commentisfree
http://www.nytimes.com/
News
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» If milkfloats can make a comeback, what retro revival will we see next?
» The grandparents whose children can’t afford to let them retire
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Literary texts• http://www.world-english.org/stories.htm (Classic
short stories)
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tips
» read the questions before the first listen (you’ll be given time) » don’t try to understand every single word- just the
information you really need. » be careful with multiple choice questions (slight differences) » beware if the answer contains the exact same word you heard » try to make short notes while you listen
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Digital radio
• Phone-ins • News bulletins
National Public Radio
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http://reallisteninginenglish.blogspot.com.es/
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Podcasts
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts
• http://learningenglish.voanews.com/podcast/0.html
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BBC PODCASTSver http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2014/02/04/bbc-podcasts/
– The Listening Project (natural, spontaneous speech, different accents)
– From Our Own Correspondent (good for vocabulary, literary descriptions)
– The Arts Hour
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Word of Mouth (BBC radio 4)
Bookclub / World Book Club
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What I’ve learned from BBC radio
» Passions run high » As luck would have it, » Fuel poverty » the Antarctic expedition had to eat seals and let
their dogs die to survive. Needs must. » squeaky-clean (politicians, reputation…) » She’s singing her heart out
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News
• http://www.cnn.es/studentnews/ (transcribed and subtitled)
• http://www.bbc.com/news/video_and_audio/international • http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/ (BBC news for children / teenagers-
easier to understand) • http://www.englishblog.com/ (words that appear on the media, updated
almost daily) • http://www.reuters.com/news/video/reuters-tv (transcription)
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Real videos subtitled in English
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EOI teachers’ blogs
» http://maripaznivelc1.blogspot.com.es/ » http://eoiluisperezc11516.blogspot.com.es/ » http://mythatsenglish.blogspot.com.es/
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Watch TV online• http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/ver-
programas-tv-otros-paises-por-internet/
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Songs• Musixmatch • http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2014/10/23/musixmatch-lyrics-player/
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• http://musicenglish.co.uk/ • http://www.lyricstraining.com/ • http://www.lyricsgaps.com/ • http://www.its-teachers.com/interact/songs/
default.asp
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What I’ve learned from songs…
» Rumour has it (Adele) » You don’t ring true, so please stop calling me (Robbie
Williams) » How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people? (The
Beatles) » Lady Madonna, children at your feet, Wonder how you
manage to make ends meet (The Beatles)
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Films
• http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/peliculas-para-aprender-ingles/
• http://www.yourlocalcinema.com/ (trailers subtitled in English for people with hearing loss)
• http://www.simpleenglishvideos.com/ • http://cinema.clubefl.gr/ • http://www.learnenglishfeelgood.com/eslvideo/index.html • http://www.multimedia-english.com/contenidos/listado/videos • http://dvd-subtitles.com/trailers.html
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TV shows
• http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/series-para-aprender-ingles/
• Watch TV shows (online; free; English subtitles): http://ororo.tv/en
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TED TALKS
» http://lingorank.com/talks/ (TED talks by level) » Must-see TED talks for kids » Talks by brilliant kids and teens
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listening comprehension exercises
• http://www.examenglish.com/CEFR/C1.htm
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DOs AND DON’TsDon’t just answer the question show off!
Don’t think about what you want to say in Spanish (the exact sentence) and then translate
•What can I say in English? •What ideas do I want to express?
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Text types
» Essay » Report » Review » letter / e-mail (formal, informal) » letter to editor, complaints, petitions…
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candidates’ productions
» http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/images/c a m b r i d g e - e n g l i s h - a d v a n c e d -handbook-2015.pdf (pp 38-40)
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Tips for writing
• There’s no need to give your true opinion about a topic>>> show your strategies, and your level of English
• Draft- plan your writing (structure, guide your text towards where you want it to go)
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Tips for writing• Simpler sentences than in Spanish (less
subordination) • Use commas, colons, stops, full stops • Group ideas in paragraphs • Coherence inside the paragraph/between paragraphs • Use links properly • Proper use of grammar and vocabulary • Self-correction / external correction
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Dictionary: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
• (English-Spanish) / English-English • British / American / Learner’s / Advanced… • Phonetics/ pronunciation • Take the meaning / word you need (not
necessarily the first one)
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LANGUAGE EXCHANGEver también: http://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2014/02/05/para-profesores-en-apuros/
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Tips
• Record yourself speaking
• Think in English/ talk to yourself in English
• Speaking groups (people learning)
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Language exchange with native speakers
• Skype, e-mails, chats… – http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/ (voice and
text Exchange) – http://www.conversationexchange.com/ (live
practice, pen-pals and voice / text chats) – http://www.sharedtalk.com/ (voice / text exchanges) – Other websites: http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/
blog/your-top-10-language-exchange-websites-for-speaking-english-fluently/
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http://www.mylanguageexchange.com/
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PRONUNCIATION
• Wrong pronunciation can hinder understanding
• http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ • http://www.forvo.com/ (native speakers
have recorded themselves pronuncing words, names, place names…)
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» Greenwich » Ralph Fiennes » Mary Magdalene / Magdalene College
(Cambridge)
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Tips for the exam• = writing- use expressions that will make you
“look good” (show your level)
• Monologue: use of discourse markers (now then, I mean, you know…).
• Interaction: it’s not 2 monologues, one after another!
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Expressions to use in an oral test• https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2015/02/25/
expressions-to-use-in-a-speaking-test-monologue-interaction/
• http://mythatsenglish.blogspot.com.es/2014/11/madrid-teacher-talking-about-classifieds.html
• https://natalialzam.wordpress.com/2015/06/02/fillers-para-examenes-orales-de-ingles/
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Interaction• question tags, to engage the other speaker in the
conversation / give the floor / ask opinion • Expressions such as don’t you think? • Expressions such as no, not really (instead of a plain “no”) • Showing agreement: definitely, absolutely… • Showing disagreement: I’m sorry to disagree but…/ I
don’t mean to…/ please, don’t get me wrong, … • Show that you agree partly, but still…: I see your point,
but… / your point is well taken, but…
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• individual long turn practice: • http://iteslj.org/questions/ • http://www.esldiscussions.com/
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• Supports production • Active & passive vocabulary • Vocabulary in context: lists without a
context, not very useful • Sources: texts, articles, films, TV shows,
radio, songs …
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» a man who can lay claim to the title … » you must be frantically busy » things are a bit hectic at the moment » I have to put this to you » there have been allegations… » you’ve set about altering your appearance » what it boils down to is…
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How?• Writing down expressions / jotting them down
(notebook, Evernote…) • Flashcards: http://quizlet.com/ • Mind maps:
– https://bubbl.us/ https:/ – /www.text2mindmap.com/ – http://popplet.com/
• Visual dictionary: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/index.php • How many words do you know?: http://testyourvocab.com/
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Expressions in context
• http://fraze.it/: find expressions, set phrases, in real contexts
• Oxford Online Collocation Dictionary
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Support for skills
• http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/ • http://www.roadtogrammar.com/welcome/
winload.swf • http://autoenglish.org/basicgrammar.htm • Use of English : http://www.examenglish.com/
CAE/cae_use_of_english1.htm
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Resources organized by categories
• https://delicious.com/natalialzam/
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LISTENING & SPEAKING
• Greeters: • http://www.globalgreeternetwork.info/ • http://www.londongreeters.org/
• Google the name of the town / city you’re going to visit + greeter, for example, “Canterbury Greeters”.
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http://watchinenglish.blogspot.com.es/2013/10/the-story-of-keep-calm-and-carry-on.html
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Natalia López Zamarvide Asesora C. lingüística
CIFE “Juan de Lanuza”