SYLLABUS 2 0 0 8

The multi-layered syllabus for Language I includes a comprehensive grammar and vocabulary syllabus at intermediate level, incorporating systematic work on listening, speaking, reading and writing. It takes an integrated approach to pronunciation, and includes learner- training and revision.
It has three distinctive features
· a task- based element,
· particular emphasis on lexis, and
· a "discovery" approach to the teaching of grammar.
Our aim is to help students develop learning skills by encouraging them to experiment with language and to work out rules for themselves, by helping them to take a pro- active role in their leaming, by giving them constant practise on a range of dictionary skills and by making them aware of the importance of taking an active role in the leaming process.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

· To introduce and practise all new language in context, via the input material used in the course.
· To give students a natural opportunity to use the language.
· To help students arrive at the new language and its rules via a discovery approach.
· To help students to draw on existing knowledge to hypothesize about new language.
· To provide a thorough coverage and practice on structures, functions and lexis at an intermediate level.
· To give them opportunities to practise the listening skills through the material included in the different texts used during the course .
· To give them opportunities to practise the speaking skills through different tasks.
· To give them opportunities to practise the reading skills via the different texts used in the course.
· To give them opportunities to practise the writing skills .
· To help them revise and recycle material by giving them opportunities to re-use what they have learnt.

CONTENTS:

Module I

Unit 1: In the Mind's eyes

Language: modifying adverbs, modals: forms and uses, descriptive adjectives, phrasal verbs, articles, giving advice.
Skills training:
§ Reading: Skim reading.
§ Speaking and listening: describing / giving an account; giving information; completing notes; matching information; resenting/justifying; asking for opinions.
§ Writing: Semi formal letters: planning, paragraphing, checking and counting words.

Unit 2: A Sense of Identity

Language: Nouns and verbs in context; modifiers; present tenses (simple and continuous): forms and uses; punctuation; order of adverbs; indefinite articles; adjectives describing appearances; adjectives and prepositions.
Skills training:
§ Reading: An article; matching headings.
§ Speaking: Presenting an opinion; interviewing; justifying opinions; asking about/explaining meanings.
§ Listening: To a radio programme; a telephone conversation; completing notes.
§ Writing: A personal profile.

Module II

Unit 3: Times past

Language: Nouns, verbs and adjectives in context; prepositions; past tenses: form and uses, passive and active forms; phrasal verbs and expressions; making comparisons; using articles.
Skills training:
§ Reading: A scientific article; scanning; surnmarizing paragraphs.
§ Speaking: Describing people, activities, phenomena, processes, etc.
§ Listening: To a narrative.
§ Writing: An account; a talk.

Unit 4: Small beginnings

Language: Confusing verbs; the future: forms and uses; zero and first conditional sentences; phrases and expressions used in formal letters; definite article.
Skills training:
Reading: An article; scanning; inserting missing sentences. A formal letter: scanning; analyzing layouts.
Speaking: Presenting/justifying opinions; negotiating; planning/giving a talk.
Listening: To an announcement, a radio programme; a song: matching information.
Writing: A formal letter: planning, checking, error correction.

Module III

Unit 5: Fame and fortune

Language: Phrases; adjectives; adverbs, and verbs in context; modals: uses and forms; expressing logical conclusion in the past; expressions used to persuade people to agree and disagree; zero article; link words; using impersonal style.
Skills training:
§ Reading: An article: skimming and scanning; an advertisement; inserting missing words; matching paragraphs.
§ Speaking: presenting/justifying opinions; simulating, presenting/justifying opinions.
§ Listening: To a talk; to a narrative.
§ Writing: A composition: planning; style; writing; checking.

Unit 6: Taking risks

Language: Synonyms; plural of nouns for groups; defining relative clauses; combining sentences; noun clauses; expressions in context; giving reasons; nouns and adjectives. Skills training:
§ Reading: Scientific articles; scanning; matching statements.
§ Speaking: presenting / justifying opinions; asking for and giving information; describing actions; giving an account/information.
§ Listening: To a telephone call, song; making notes; identifying statements.
§ Writing: A biography; result and purpose; opening paragraphs; ordering events; choosing key information.

Module IV

Unit 7: Means of communication

Language: Words with different meanings; zero article; present perfect-form and use; contrasted with simple past, present perfect continuous; the passive; levels of formality; facts and figures; the passive; American English; rhyming slang; spelling differences; class debate.
Skills training:
§ Reading: An article; scanning; reflecting context.
§ Speaking: Describing people; giving an account; comparing pictures; describing processes; presenting/justifying/defending opinions; requesting explanation/repetition.
§ Listening:To a narrative: completing notes.
§ Writing: A report: researching; organizing paragraphs; writing; checking.

Unit 8: What if ... ?

Language: Synonyms; rhymes and repetitions; second conditional - form and use; giving advice; describing imaginary situations; expressing wishes; phrases in context; possibilities; suggestions; easily confused words in context; expressing personal opmlOns.
Skills training:
§ Reading: A article; poem; skimming; analyzing content.
§ Speaking:Presenting/justifying/defending opinions; discussing people/processes.
§ Listening: To a TV programme, song.
§ Writing: A composition: planning: WrÍting; checking.

Module V

Unit 9:Travellers' tales

Language: Expressions in context; adjectives; nouns; past simple; past continuous ­past simple; past perfect; telling stories; uses of"get"; using conversation fillers; using factual information.
Skills training:
§ Reading: A literary extraet: skim reading; scanning; a short story, an advertisement: ski m reading; ordering paragraphs.
§ Speaking: Describing people/processes; giving an account.
§ Listening: To a telephone message.
§ Writing: A shot story: Choosing the right tense; sequencing events; planning; writing; checking.

Unit 10: The right choice

Language: Words and meanings; describing attitudes and values; reporting speech­forms and uses; formal expressions in context; prepositional phrases; idioms in context; word stress; expressing approvalldisapproval.
Skills training:
Reading: An anecdote: skim reading; seanning.
Speaking: Present/justifying opinions; negotiating.
Listening: To a telephone call: completing messages.
Writing: A CV, covering letter: planning; writing; checking for errors.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Course Books:
§ Astudillo Ana, Silvia Kind et al. (2005) Improve your Reading & Writing Skills, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Departamento de Inglés.
§ Conybears, Anne (2003) Matrix Intermediate. UAE: Oxford.
§ Conybears, Anne (2003) Matrix Intermediate. Workbook. UAE: Oxford.
§ Galvan, Cecilia & Mariana Vargas: Grammar Practice. Material de Cátedra.

Additional material

Self-study:

§ Use of English
§ Practice your Listening Skills. Selection. Material de Cátedra.

Extensive Reading


Fitzgerald, Scout F, THE GREAT GATSBY, Heinemann- Intemediate Level.

Hartley, L.P., THE GO-BETWEEN, London

Basett, Jennifer,(Editor) A Window to the Universe, O.U.P ( Fotocopiadora 300)

Brown, Bill, “ The Star Ducks”
Bixby, Jerome, “ It's a Good Life”