Topic 2.3 are you ready to go international? class 1

1. Work in pairs. Watch the educational video from Cambridge and summarize all the relevant aspects of the examination for the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE).

2. Work in small groups. Talk about whether you’d like to take such an exam in the future. Why (not)?

3. Read the description of the examination format and say which the areas are where you feel more at ease with any high-level examination task. If you had to pass the above exam tomorrow, which grade would be yours?

CAE

It is the advanced general English examination provided by the University of Cambridge ESOL examinations. The examination comprises five parts: Reading (1 hour and 15 minutes), Writing (1 hour and 30 minutes), Use of English (1 hour), Listening (40 minutes), Speaking (15 minutes). Each component carries 20% of the total marks. There are three pass grades (A, B and C) and certificates are awarded to candidates who achieve these grades. Candidates who achieve a grade D or E are judged not to have reached the required standard for CAE. In the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, CAE is ranked at C1 and C2 levels. Candidates who have obtained an A grade are awarded a C2 certificate, those obtaining grade B or C, are awarded a certificate at C1. Like all the other Cambridge exams, once the exam is passed the qualification never expires. CAE is considered to be very valuable, and is a required qualification for international students applying to many British universities. As of March 2010, the following grading scale applies: Grade A – 80% and above, Grade B – 75% to 79%, Grade C – 60% to 74%.

4. Familiarize yourselves with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Learn about the requirements you must meet as a professional educator. Are you there, at the required level?

CEFR

Abbreviated as CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is a guideline used to describe achievements of learners of foreign languages across Europe and, increasingly, in other countries. It was put together by the Council of Europe as the main part of the project "Language Learning for European Citizenship" between 1989 and 1996. Its main aim is to provide a method of learning, teaching and assessing which applies to all languages in Europe. In November 2001 a European Union Council Resolution recommended using the CEFR to set up systems of validation of language ability. The six reference levels are becoming widely accepted as the European standard for grading an individual's language proficiency. The Common European Framework divides learners into three broad divisions which can be divided into six levels: A Basic User (A1 Breakthrough or beginner, A2 Waystage or elementary), B Independent User (B1 Threshold or intermediate, B2 Vantage or upper intermediate), C Proficient User (C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or advanced, C2 Mastery or proficiency). The CEFR describes what a learner is supposed to be able to do in reading, listening, speaking and writing at each level. The general description of what learners should be able to do is as follows: (1) they can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read, (2) they can summarize information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation, and (3) can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations.

5. As practice makes perfect, let’s do Reading Parts 1 and 2 of a sample CAE examination test. You’ve got no more than 40 minutes to do both.

PART 1

You are going to read three extracts which are all concerned in some way with electronics. For questions 1-6, choose the answer (А, В, С or D) which you think fits best according to the text.