First Year Language 1B (CEFR: B1+)

‘Can do’ statements

The following descriptors provide an indication of the passive and productive abilities of students passing this course.

Listening Comprehension

• Understand straightforward information about everyday, study- or work-related topics, identifying both general messages and specific details, provided people speak clearly in a familiar accent.
• Generally follow the main points of extended discussion, if people talk clearly.
• Follow a lecture or talk, if the subject matter is familiar and the presentation clearly structured.

Reading  Comprehension

• Understand the main points in straightforward texts on subjects of personal or professional interest.
• Look quickly through simple, factual texts in magazines, brochures or on a website, and identify information that might be of practical use.
• Identify the main conclusions in texts which clearly argue a point of view.
• Read simplified versions of novels, plus stories with a clear structure, with little use of a dictionary.

Spoken

• Start a conversation on familiar topics, talk relatively freely, and help keep the conversation going without help by expressing and responding to suggestions, opinions, attitudes, advice, feelings, etc.
• Express personal opinions on abstract topics like films and music, and ask other people what they think.
• Develop an argument well enough to be followed without difficulty most of the time.
• Summarise non-routine information on familiar subjects from various sources and present it to others, answering clear questions.

Written

• Write about a variety of familiar topics, comparing and contrasting different opinions.
• Write a detailed description of an experience, dream or imaginary event, including feelings and reactions.
• Commands a sufficient range of language to describe unusual and predictable situations and to express personal thoughts on abstract or cultural as well as everyday topics (such as music, films).
• Write standard formal letters relating to his/her field of study or work, as well as personal e-mails and letters describing experiences and feelings.