Learning objectives
By the end of the course the students are expected to reach level B1 of the European Frame of Reference.
Prerequisites
None
Course unit content
An introduction to grammar, vocabulary and functions of the English language (basic level).
Full programme
1. Grammar
Articles, demonstratives; possessives and possessive; ‘s; personal pronouns some and any; countable and uncountable nouns; quantifiers; comparatives and superlatives; relative pronouns; main prepositions of place and time; indirect questions; main conjunctions; main phrasal/prepositional verbs. Present Simple and Present Continuous; Past Simple; Past Continuous; Present Perfect Simple. The future (going to, will, Present Simple, Present Continuous). First conditional Time clauses and the Present Simple). The Passive voice (Present Simple, Past Simple, Present Perfect). Modal verbs (can, could, must, will, would, should).
2. Vocabulary
Spelling; numbers (prices, quantities, dates, etc.); family; free time activities; house and furniture; public places and shops; jobs; food and drinks; animals; weather; clothes; parts of the body and health problems; means of transport; everyday objects.
3. Functions
Describing people (character and appearance); telling the time and dates; describing everyday habits and routines; ordering in a restaurant or in a hotel; understanding notices, labels, adverts; road directions; describing holidays, trips, etc.; describing objects (size, colour, shape, etc.); warnings and prohibitions; obligation and absence of obligations; agreement/disagreement; criticisms and complaints; talking about preferences; describing feelings and emotions.
Bibliography
For grammar, functions and vocabulary:
M. Vince, G. Cerulli, Inside Grammar, Macmillan (+ keys)
M. Swan, C. Walter, The Good Grammar Book with answers, Oxford UP;
P. Conti, E. Sharman, L. Green, A. Cowan, The Burlington English Grammar, ed. Burlington Books Le Monnier (+ keys) (grammar only);
M. McCarthy, F. O’Dell, English Vocabulary in Use Elementary (edition with key), Cambridge University Press (vocabulary only)
Textbook:
S.A. Hill, M.L. Freeman, Change Up! Intermediate Students’ book & Workbook Pack, ELI (ISBN 978 885 360 4064).
Further practice:
J.Newbrook, J.Wilson, PET Gold Exam Maximer Self-Study edition (with audio CD set), Longman ISBN 9 780 582 529 250;
A. Capel, R.Nixon, PET Masterclass Intermediate Workbook with answers and Audio CD pack, OUP Graded readers published by BlackCat Cideb (Green Apple Step2 or Reading & Training Elementary/Pre-Intermediate);
S. Hutchison, Premium B1 Level Work book with Key and Multi-ROM, Longman ISBN 9 78 1405 881 104.
Dictionary Oxford Study Dictionary (bilingual);
Longman Dizionario Compatto (bilingual);
Cambridge Essential English Dictionary (monolingual).
Teaching methods
Methodology: presentation of structures, deduction of rule, contrastive use of the language, use of different teaching aids (slides, audioCDs, textbook, etc.).
Assessment methods and criteria
Assessment: final test with multiple choice questions on grammar, lexis, functions, reading and listeniing comprehension.
Other information
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