Advanced English (3 cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

The Advanced English course was created in order to offer a challenge and means of development to those students who are at about a C1 level in English.

After successfully completing this course, you will have polished your advanced written and oral English skills towards passing the Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) exam. This requires demonstrating a level 5 on a scale of six which equals C1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The sixth level in this framework is comparable to a native speaker.

Content

You will learn about and practice all 18 areas of the CAE exam which are under one of the following categories: reading and use of English, writing, listening and speaking.

Materials

Haines, S. 2014. Compact Advanced. Workbook with answers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.ISBN 978-1-107-41790-8

Teaching methods

This course begins on Wed. Sept. 9th, 2020 at 15.45 in room G301 with a mandatory entrance exam. The test is used as a means to ensure that participants have a good chance of passing the course. The target group is students who have a high B2 - C1 level of English. Please bring your laptop to this first session on 9.9 as part of the exam is online.

This is a contact lesson course which involves classroom teaching and weekly independent writing assignments. Optima is used as the learning platform.

Contact lessons involve completion of listening, speaking and grammar/vocabulary related CAE tasks.
Feedback on independent written tasks will be given by both the teacher and classmates.
Specific grammar topics such as the use of commas and articles will be explored through group problem-solving activities.
The course test will involve completion of a former CAE exam.

Course test: 50% Independent writing tasks: 25% Continuous demonstration of skills, active attendance: 25%

Student workload

Contact lessons: 36 hours
Independent writing tasks: 20 hours
Test preparation: 25 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

1 You demonstrate a minimal level of English in the 5 CAE areas. You struggle but manage to complete assignments. Class participation is weak.

2 You demonstrate a basic level of English in the 5 CAE areas. This can be seen by the understanding and production of general language on familiar topics. Assignments were sometimes completed late and with reminders. Class participation is passive.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

4 You demonstrate a very good level of English in the 5 CAE areas. This can be seen by the understanding and production of extended language on unfamiliar topics with some difficulties. Assignments were completed independently, on schedule and fulfill most requirements. You are active in class.

3 You demonstrate a good level of English in the 5 CAE areas. This can be seen by the understanding and production of language on unfamiliar topics with assistance. Assignments were completed mostly on time and fulfill many of the requirements. You are sometimes active.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

5 You demonstrate an excellent level of English in the 5 CAE areas. This can be seen by the understanding and production of extended language on unfamiliar topics. Assignments are completed independently, on schedule and fulfill all requirements. You are very active in contact lessons.

Qualifications

A B2/C1 CEFR level of English is a prerequisite to participate in this course. (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/sites/default/files/cefr-en.pdf)

Further information

Open Studies 3
Exchange Students 10