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Brushing up your English via exams prepaan action plan
Higor Cavalcante
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What do we need to do know about the lang
teach?
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Teachers need to know a lot about the subject they are teaching (the Eng
() Language teachers need to know how the language works. () a kngrammar system and understanding of the lexical system. () They need
pronunciation features such as sounds, stress and intonation. () Student
expect that teachers of the English language can explain straightforwa
concepts, including how and when they are used. They expect their teach
difference between the colloquial language that people use in informal co
the more formal language required in more formal setting
Jeremy Harmer in How to te
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Among the consequences of () a limited knowledge of language are: a
part of the teacher to anticipate learners learning problems and a conseqplan lessons that are pitched at the right level; () an inability to deal sa
errors, or to field learners queries; and a general failure to earn the con
learners due to a lack of basic terminology and ability to present new la
and efficiently.
Scott Thornbury, inAbout L
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Why exams
They provide a target to aim at
They make us study harder
They make us revise what we have learned
They show other people what Imcapable of
They give me qualifications I can put on my CV
They ultimately provide a sense of achievement
Adapted from How to teach fo
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Which exams
Cambridge English: Advanced (aka CAE) CEFR C1
Cambridge English: Proficiency (aka CPE) CEFR C2
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What is tested
CAE
Reading
Writing
Use of English Listening
Speaking
CPE
Reading and Use
Writing
Listening Speaking
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Preparing for international exams
Read vastly and variedly
Study grammar
Study vocabulary
Expose yourself to a lot of English
Speak with proficient speakers
Be curious
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READING
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What should I read?
Books (varied genres)
Magazines (assorted topics)
Newspapers (different regions, various themes)
Exam-like tasks / past papers
Amount and range
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Exam sample
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WRITING
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Tell a partner
What youvewritten in the past two weeks
How much writing you normally do
Which genres you usually practice
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Practicing writing
Varied genres: letter, report, review, essay, article etc.
Good writers read vastly and variedly
Study models
Text organization (paragraphing, layout), register, range and a
lexis and syntax, punctuation, coherence & cohesion Write a lot!
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Exam sample
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LISTENING
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Improving listening skills
Study phonology
Listen to a lot of English
TV (movies, series etc.)
Podcasts, websites
www.ted.com Do exam-like tasks / past papers
Focus on language
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Exam sample
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SPEAKING
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Working on your speaking skills
Teaching (usually) wonthelp much
Practice speaking with advanced and proficient speakers
Make a conscious effort to activate new, interesting language
Suggestions: book clubs, study groups, Skype, record yoursel
Exam-like tasks
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Exam sample
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USE OF ENGLISH
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Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
You cantseparate them.
No matter what happens, I am never going to stay in that ho
UNDER
Under _______ stay in that hotel again.
Under no circumstances am I ever going to stay in that hotel
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Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
Be sure you know all a word can mean.
The company _____ its awards ceremony in March last year.
John _____ the ladder firmly while his father painted the win
The file that was destroyed ____ some extremely important
held
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Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
Study word formation. Understand their grammatical forms.
offend
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Know your grammar. And vocabulary.
Study grammar conscientiously Keep a vocabulary notebook at all times. Be curious.
Do exam-like tasks / past papers
Read vastly and variedly.
Revisited previously studied vocabulary.
Make a conscious effort to put new language into use.
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Good grammar books
Advanced Language Practice, Michael Vince. Macmillan.
Advanced Grammar in Use, Martin Hewings. Cambridge.
Practical English Usage, Michael Swan. Oxford.
Grammar for English Language Teachers, Martin Parrott. Cam
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Good vocabulary books
How to Teach Vocabulary, Scott Thornbury. Pearson.
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced. Cambridge.
English Collocations in Use Advanced. Cambridge.
English Idioms in Use Advanced. Cambridge
English Phrasal Verbs in Use Advanced. Cambridge.
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Other good language books
About Language, Scott Thornbury. Cambridge.
English Pronunciation in Use Advanced, Martin Hewings. Ca
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Thank you!
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