Week 1: Reading & listening - Orientation

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 3

Listening and reading practice

Lesson goals

• Discuss the exams
•  Practice reading and listening on TOA

English exams

The English exams are split into 3 exams:

• Reading and listening (1,5 hours) B1 - B2 Level
• Writing (45 min - 1 hour) A2 - B1 Level
• Speaking A2 - B1 Level: 

1. Presentation (5 - 7 min)
2. Conversation (4,5 - 6 min)

To pass these exams, you must have a 5,5 or higher. 

How will you be graded?

During each exam, you'll be presented with tasks that you must complete within the time limit.

There can be up to 6 tasks in each exam. 

Therefore, it is important that you complete everything and leave no task incomplete.

However, if you did miss just one task, you can still pass the exam if you've completed the requirements per task and demonstrate how well you can use English skill. 

How will you be assessed

To pass these exams, you must have a 5,5 or higher. 

You get two opportunities to take the test, but you need to send an email to TEO and me to schedule another date. This is only applicable due to a complicated situations or if you're sick.

You will be assessed based on Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. 

CEFR

The CEFR spectrum

Reading and listening strategies

Why are reading and listening strategies important? 

• They are essential because students are then enabled to either read and understand or listen to a text and be able to understand what it is all about. They're a guide to better approach a text or audio fragment!

Reading with a purpose

• Are you looking for specific information? Know exactly what you’re looking for. Scan the table of contents, index, and subheadings for the chapters or sections that can give it to you.

• Then skim those sections until you find what you need. Pay special attention to the headings and first paragraphs. They can alert you to the main points in each section.

• Are you trying to understand a subject or an author? Do you need to write an essay or to form your own opinions for a discussion, debate, or essay? Read critically, considering the author’s point of view and possible biases.

The 5 text structures

Description text

The description text structure describes or explains a topic, idea, person, place, or thing to give the reader a mental picture.

Examples: A book about animals describes the different kinds of whales and their habitats or the life cycle of frogs. A book about deserts describes the unique flora and fauna of that ecosystem. 

Cause and effect text

The cause and effect text structure tells why something happened (cause) and what happened (effect).

Examples: A book about weather shows how specific weather patterns can cause extreme weather such as a blizzard or a hurricane. A book about volcanoes describes how eruptions occur when an opening develops in the Earth’s crust and the molten (magma) is forced through the crack.

Compare and contrast text

The compare-and-contrast text structure examines the similarities and differences between two or more people, events, concepts, and ideas.

Examples: A book about ancient Greece explains how the Spartan women were different from the Athenian women. A book about moths and butterflies describes how they are similar and how they are different.

Chronology/Sequence text

The chronology/sequence text structure describes items or events in order, or explains the steps to follow.

 

Examples: A book about the American revolution lists the events leading to the war. A book about bees explains how bees make honey. 

Problem and solution text

The cproblem and solution text structure sets up a problem or problems, explains the solution, and then discusses the effects of the solution.

Example: A book about climate change explains what causes it and what we can do to reverse the dangers.

Listening- Outside check with Capt. Joe

Watch the video of a pilot who’s doing a pre-flight check.

Listen carefully to what is being explained

Answers

Grammar: Affixes

Types of Affixes

Affixes and their purpose

www.grammar-monster.com

Let's practice!

Find the opposite of these words using the affixes:

1- wrap

2- use

3- agree

4- engage

behave

6- understand

7- fold

8- spell

9- connect

10- close

1. He was acting in a very________
way. (child)

1. -less
2. -ish
3. -able
4. -like

2. She looked_______. She started to cry. (happy)

1. un-
2. -iness
3. -ly
4. -able

3. He passed his exam. He was_________
for the second time. (succeed)

1. -able
2. -tion
3. -or
4. -ful

4. The team that he supported was able to win the__________. (champion)

1. -ship
2. -ion
3. -less
4. -ful

5. I couldn't find any__________
in his theory. (weak)

1. -ling
2. -er
3. -ness
4. -est

6. He wants to be a __________
when he grows up. (mathematics)

1. -cian
2. -tical
3. -tically
4. -able

7. There were only a _________
of people at the match. (hand)

1. -ier
2. -ful
3. -y
4. -iest

8. The road was too narrow, so they had to ___________ it. (wide)

1. -ly
2. -ning
3. -er
4. -den

9. I think that you should _________
your decision. It may not be the best thing to do. (consider)

1. -able
2. -ing
3. -er
4. -ably

10. You need a ___________
of motivation, organization and hard work to realize your dreams. (combine)

1. -nation
2. -ning
3. in-
4. un-

Independent practice 

For those of you who want to continue working on their 

reading and listening skills

here are some site to help you. Make sure to click on them and bookmark it!

learnenglish.britishcouncil.org

learnenglish.britishcouncil.org