Use DI CERTIFICAZIONE UNO STRUMENTO PER GLI ESAMI

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1 Ready toready Use UNO STRUMENTO PER GLI ESAMI DI CERTIFICAZIONE L accordo del Ministero della Pubblica istruzione con gli enti di certificazione esterni (febbraio 2000) costituisce un incentivo a valorizzare il percorso di studio della L2 in vista di una spendibilità a livello europeo delle competenze acquisite in classe. Ready to Use, concepito sui criteri e i descrittori di competenze elaborati sulla base del Common European Framework of Reference, offre al docente gli strumenti idonei a condurre gli studenti a sostenere le prove di certificazione più diffuse ed accreditate: l esame PET (Preliminary English Test) proposto dallo UCLES di Cambridge e gli esami ESOL (Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6) proposti da Trinity College. Le pagine seguenti illustrano come il corso ottemperi ai dettagli di contenuto elencati nel syllabus PET e ESOL in piena sintonia con le procedure pratiche e metodologiche suggerite nei manuali degli enti stessi per la preparazione alle prove d esame. In particolare Ready to Use presenta le 4 abilità (sezione Using Skills ) organizzate per obiettivi di apprendimento e strategie in progressione dal più semplice al più complesso. 1

2 PET Reading (Preliminary English Test) The Reading Section consists of five parts, carrying a total of 25 marks. Part Text Questions Question no. Part 1 Signs 5 multiple-choice questions, 1-5 each with 4 options Part 2 Short texts 5 descriptions matched 6-10 to 8 short texts Part 3 Longer factual text 10 true/false statements about a text containing factual information Part 4 Longer continuous 5 multiple-choice questions about text a text which conveys opinion or attitude Part 5 Cloze text 10 gaps in a short text, to be completed by choosing one of four multiple-choice options Preparation for the Reading Component Preparation for the Reading Component is best carried out by giving students a wide variety of reading materials, including simple articles, reports, reviews, instructions, descriptions and narratives. Reading practice should take the form of extensive reading of texts as well as intensive reading. It will be beneficial to develop not only reading comprehension but also appropriate reading strategies. Whenever possible, reading as an enjoyable activity should be developed. Ready to Use for the Reading Component Nelle schede USING SKILLS l insegnante può seguire Be a good READER. Alcuni esempi significativi da Student s Book 1 & 2: Instructions: - Unit 20, p. 205 Descriptions: - Unit 17, p. 176 Narratives: - Unit 11, pp Extensive reading: - USING SKILLS, p. 142 Intensive reading: - USING SKILLS, p. 228 Reading strategies: - USING SKILLS, p USING SKILLS, pp Reading as enjoyable activity: - USING SKILLS, pp L insegnante può anche fare riferimento alla seguente risorsa aggiuntiva: Zoom on English Speaking Countries Objective: Reading Comprehension 2

3 PET Writing (Preliminary English Test) The Writing Section consists of three parts, carrying a total of 25 marks. Part Tasks Questions Question no. Part 1 Sentence 5 sentences, covering a range 1-5 transformations of grammatical structures Part 2 Form-completion 10 gaps to be filled in 6-15 on a realistic form Part 3 Continuous writing an informal letter about words Preparation for the Writing Component PET makes a real attempt to bridge the gap [between writing sentence-type exercises and producing simple compositions] by emphasizing controlled or guided writing tasks which students can be reasonably expected to perform at this level. These tasks [ ] should be made as relevant as possible to the lives of the students, so that they will write with a definite purpose in mind. A list of such writing tasks [includes] filling-in forms, keeping a diary, and writing short letters to friends [ ]. Ready to Use for the Writing Component Nelle schede USING SKILLS l insegnante può seguire Be a good WRITER. Letter-writing should be practised regularly in preparation for PET. Written assignments should include replies to letters, advertisements, and notices, as well as invitations and short letters of request, apology, etc. Alcuni esempi significativi da Student s Book 1 & 2: Controlled or guided writing tasks: - USING SKILLS, p USING SKILLS, p Test Book, p USING SKILLS, p. 83 Writing with a definite purpose: - Unit 17, p Unit 17, p USING SKILLS, p. 179 Filling-in forms: - USING SKILLS, p USING SKILLS, pp Writing a diary: - Unit 23, p. 251 Writing short letters to friends:- USING SKILLS, p Test Book, p.59 Advertisements: - USING SKILLS, p. 159 L insegnante può anche fare riferimento alla seguente risorsa aggiuntiva: Communicative Writing Objective: Written Production 3

4 PET Speaking (Preliminary English Test) The Speaking Paper consists of three parts, carrying a total of 25 marks. Part Topic Task Part 1 Personal information introductory question and answer session and brief conversation between candidates Part 2 Simulated situation simulated situation with shared visual material Part 3 Photographs individual long turn, talking about a photo Preparation for the Speaking Component Speaking practice at this level will range from simple pronunciation drills to taking part in a short conversation about a subject of interest. It is important for learners to be able to identify themselves in English, giving their name, address, age, etc. Preparation for PET should involve students in talking about themselves, and finding out about each other, spelling their names, describing their hobbies and interests, and giving reasons for liking or disliking something. Simple role-plays are useful and can provide an excellent opportunity for spontaneous speech. For such practice it is essential for students to be given roles with which they can identify. In the PET Speaking Component all situations are relevant and purposeful, with meaningful tasks. If, at any time during the test, candidates have difficulty in understanding a question or a response, they should ask the interlocutor to repeat what was said. Specialised vocabulary is not required at PET level. Candidates should be able to paraphrase, [that is] to be able to use compensation strategies at this level. [At PET level candidates are expected to be able] to take part in the interaction appropriately and with a reasonable degree of fluency. [Interactive communication] includes the ability to use strategies to maintain and repair communication. Ready to Use for the Speaking Component Ready to Use prevede un accurato training sulle abilità di produzione orale e di interazione attraverso le attività di Speaking all interno dello Student s Book, gli esercizi You & Me e, nelle schede USING SKILLS, le sezioni Be a good COMMUNICATOR. Alcuni esempi significativi da Student s Book 1 & 2: Role plays: - You & Me, p USING SKILLS, p Test Book, p. 112 Ask the interlocutor to repeat: - USING SKILLS, p. 54 Paraphrasing and compensation strategies: - USING SKILLS, p. 158 Strategies to maintain and repair a conversation: - USING SKILLS, p. 212 L insegnante può anche fare riferimento alla seguente risorsa aggiuntiva: Video Activity Book Objective: Oral Comprehension and Project Work 4

5 PET Listening (Preliminary English Test) The Listening Paper consists of four parts, carrying a total of 25 marks. Part Text Questions Question no. Part 1 Short extracts 7 short recordings which relate 1-7 each to one of four illustrations, preceded by a short focus question Part 2 Longer factual 6 multiple-choice questions, 8-13 monologue each with four options Part 3 Longer factual completing a set of notes or a table monologue by filling 6 gaps with a word or short phrase Part 4 Informal conversation 6 true/false questions Preparation for the Listening Component Students should be able to understand [ ] public announcements; [...] to extract information of a factual nature (times, dates, etc.) from speech which will contain redundancies and [unfamiliar] language; to understand the sense of a dialogue and show appreciation of the attitude and intentions of the speakers. Ready to Use for the Listening Component Oltre a una ricca gamma di attività di ascolto, Ready to Use offre anche in USING SKILLS una serie di schede: Be a good LISTENER, che preparano all ascolto di tipo sia globale sia selettivo. Alcuni esempi significativi da Student s Book 1 & 2: Public announcements: - USING SKILLS, p. 186 Extracting information: - USING SKILLS, p. 204 Appreciating attitude and intentions: - Unit 21, p. 224, exercise 4 - Unit 7, p. 79 exercise 1 In countries where English is used as a foreign language listening to English on the radio and on tape / CD is often even more important. [ ] Cassettes which enable students to hear a variety of native-speaker voices are very useful and motivating, especially as the speakers may differ in accent, tone, level, and quality of voice. Di tutte queste variabili si è tenuto conto nella preparazione/registrazione delle numerose cassette che corredano sia lo Student s Book sia il Work Book di Ready to Use. Infatti tutti i dialoghi e i testi per le attività di ascolto, conversazione e pronuncia sono stati incisi da native speakers aventi caratteristiche diverse per età, sesso e provenienza linguistica (British English, American English, Australian English, International English). 5

6 Trinity ESOL 2001 Examinations in Spoken English for Speakers of Other Languages Livello di riferimento Certificazione Abilità valutate del Common rilasciata da Trinity European Framework A1 Breakthrough GRADE 1 Initial stage Comprensione GRADE 2 Initial stage e produzione orali A2 Waystage GRADE 3 Initial stage Comprensione A2 Waystage plus GRADE 4 Elementary stage e produzione orali B1 Threshold GRADE 5 Elementary stage Comprensione GRADE 6 Elementary stage e produzione orali (esame opzionale per le abilità di lettura e scrittura) PET Preparation for Trinity Questo tipo di esame è focalizzato sulla performance orale. È quindi evidente che il docente orientato alla certificazione di Trinity dovrà dedicarsi a pratiche di interazione e produzione orali, ai fini di consolidare e raffinare la performance dei propri studenti nelle due specifiche abilità. Ready to Use for Trinity Tutti gli esponenti linguistici presentati in Ready to Use sono funzionali allo sviluppo di competenze comunicative orali di tipo sia produttivo sia interattivo. Le sezioni Speaker s Corner e Project Corner (cfr. anche Zoom on English Speaking Countries) guidano alla preparazione di conversation topics. In USING SKILLS le schede Be a good COMMUNICATOR presentano strategie per argomentare le proprie idee e sostenere il proprio punto di vista. Candidate Profile By the end of the Elementary stage (Grades 4, 5, 6) the candidate can understand and use language in familiar situations related to school, work, travel and leisure express and ask about personal interests and give opinions on familiar or prepared topics talk about past, present and future events express hopes and intentions maintain the flow of communication with minimal assistance Extracts from Trinity Syllabus Ready to Use per gli esami Trinity Alcuni esempi da Student s Book 1 & 2: L insegnante può seguire tutte le Speaking activities dei moduli 2, 3, 5, 6, 9. Preparing a talk on a specific topic: - USING SKILLS, p USING SKILLS, p. 261 Verbal tenses: - tutte le attività dei moduli 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 Talking about plans and intentions: - Unit 12, pp Keeping a conversation going: - USING SKILLS, p USING SKILLS, p

7 Format esami ESOL N.B. The following are extracts from Trinity Syllabus: Format The candidate holds a conversation with the examiner (total time: 10 minutes). The two major phases of the conversation are: - presentation of a topic chosen and prepared by the candidate, followed by a discussion of that topic with the examiner (5 minutes); - general conversation with the examiner (5 minutes). Ready to Use consente agli allievi di affrontare gli esami Trinity con i seguenti requisiti: Candidate performance (Grade 5) The candidate is expected to: - make a short presentation of a prepared topic (2 minutes) using objects or pictures to illustrate it; - answer questions on the prepared topic and participate in informal discussion of the topic, during which the examiner might request more information, facts or details, and give reasons for making particular statements; - give short narrative accounts and descriptions of events; - answer open-ended questions and requests for clarification and further information; - commmunicate ideas; - give reasons; - express preferences; (Grade 6) - answer questions on the prepared topic, and participate in informal discussion of the topic, during which the examiner might request more information, facts or details; - give reasons for making particular statements and be prepared to talk about the purpose or necessity for a course of action or another element of the topic; - express opinions and impressions. New grammatical items (Grade 5) - the present perfect tense including use with for, since, ever, never - connecting clauses using and, but, because - the future tense - expressions of preference - expressions of quantity - more expressions relating to past time 7

8 Dove reperire ulteriori informazioni sugli esami UCLES e Trinity ESOL 78964F Cambridge PET EFL Division - UCLES Syndicate Building 1 Hills Road, Cambridge CB1 2EU United Kingdom fax: (0044) (01) Representatives for Italy: The British Council c/o Via Delle Quattro Fontane Roma Italia tel.: (0039) (06) fax: (0039) (06) eflhelpdesk@ucles.org.uk website: The British Council Via Manzoni Milano Italia tel.: (0039) (02) fax: (0039) (02) Director: Chris Baxter website: Trinity ESOL 2001 Sede Centrale: Trinity Via Roma Prato Italia tel.: (0039) (0574) fax: (0039) (0574) esol@trinitycollege.co.uk website: website: Responsabile: Claudia Beccheroni Stampato per conto della casa editrice presso Tip.le.co - Piacenza (Italia). Tutti i diritti riservati. 2001, Paravia Bruno Mondadori Editori Copia fuori commercio destinata al solo uso dell insegnante