Aims and Content of Course

Dr. Csilla Sárdi, PPKE

Autumn 2017

EFL Practice 7

(5 year TEFL Programme)

Aims and content of course:

The course aims at enhancing students’ literacy competence in order to help them become proficient in English and successfully pass the proficiency exam at the end of their 7th semester. The course has a dual focus: (1) academic content and (2) language development, and the former concentrates on issues in applied linguistics and British society/culture, and the latter deals withadvanced vocabulary building, grammar review, reading, writing, listening and speaking skills relevant in academic contexts. In order to achieve these aims, students will be given opportunities to engage in tasks and discuss topics similar to those of the General, Academic and Pedagogical English Competence Exam as well as of content-focus classes.

Course materials:

McCarthy, M. & O’Dell, F. (2013), English Vocabulary in Use. Advanced. (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press. (EVU)

Supplementary materials will be provided during the seminars

Requirements:

You are expected to

• attend seminars (no more than 3 seminars may be missed)
• participate in discussions actively
• write an expository essay (outline, 1st draft and final version) focusing on an academic issue (40%)
• give a mini lecture focusing on an academic issue (30%)
• write two in-class vocabulary tests (30%)
• complete tasks in class and as homework

Assessment:

Students’ assessment will be based on theiroral and written contributions as well as in-class test results.

About the General, Academic and Pedagogical English Competence Exam:

This is a complex language exam designed to assess teacher trainees’ general, academic and pedagogical language proficiency. It tests candidates’ command of English at C1 level, as defined in the Council of Europe’s “Common European Framework of Reference” standards. The examination evaluates both the written and spoken proficiencies of candidates at the C1 level.

The written component of the examination consists of 3 parts.

1. Use of English

Task types: (1) multiple choice cloze (Context Vocabulary), (2) open cloze, (3) word formation (in text), (4) blank fill with a key word, (5) sentence transformation (with given new sentence beginning), (6) key word transformation, (7) blank fill with verb forms (8) error correction (in isolated sentences)

2. Reading Comprehension

Task types: (1) Short texts – (a) multiple-matching and (b) word-meaning comprehension questions, (2) One longer text – (a) responding to general comprehension questions and (b) summarising a given aspect of the text

3. Written text production

Candidates write a 400-word subchapter of an academic paper (a literature review on an academic concept) based on information provided.

The spoken component of the examination also consists of 3 parts.

1. An academic presentation (15 mins) on a topic in language pedagogy chosen by the student, prepared at home and presented at the exam with some visual support (e.g., projected slides and/or handout).

2. Giving explanations and instructions for a classroom activity on the basis of a given written task for a specified class in terms of group level (A1, A2, B1) and age.

3. A debate: spontaneous interaction between two candidates discussing a controversial pedagogical issue (described in a written statement or provocative quotation).

Syllabus – EFL Practice 7

5 year TEFL programme

English Vocabulary in Use (EVU):

Essay requirements:

Your outline should contain the following: (1) a working title, (2) the introductory paragraph setting the context of your essay and including your thesis statement, (3) your ideas for discussion that you consider relevant and plan to focus on in the paragraphs (in note form).

Your first draft should contain the full text of the essay (approx. 1000 words) and your bibliography.

Your final essay should be the revised and edited version of the draft.

Structure of mini lectures:

(1) Lead-in: defining useful concepts and terminology (max. 5 mins); (2) Lecture: giving a presentation on your topic (max. 15 mins); (3) Follow-up: leading a group discussion (max 10 mins)