Course detail

First Certificate in English I

FAST-BYA20Acad. year: 2024/2025

Grammar: Revision of narrative tenses + used to and would, linkers, adverbs and adverbial expressions, inversion, distancing, unreal uses of past tenses, conditionals (including mixed conditionals), adjectives and prepositions. Vocabulary: Memories and summer jobs at a design office/abroad, work, history, reviews (films/books), work, history, reviews (films/books), expressions with the noun 'time', IT/software, money, addictions and obsessions, sounds and the human voice. Reading: Job adverts – a job I could do now/after graduating/my 'ideal job'. Writing: Job application, CV and cover letter.
The content of the course is aimed at students who would benefit from studying and practicing B2 (higher Upper-Intermediate level) English with a native speaker, i.e. students who: wish to study abroad (e.g. with the Erasmus+ programme) or work abroad; want to prepare for the BY003 B2 level language exam (useful for Erasmus+); already speak English at a good Intermediate level and would like to improve; already speak English at an Upper Intermediate or Advanced level and would like to practice their English so as not to forget what they learned in previous years.

Language of instruction

Czech

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Roger Turland, BA.

Department

Institute of Social Sciences (SPV)

Entry knowledge

Higher intermediate knowledge of English (B1+ level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for languages).

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

Aims

The aim of the BYA20 course is to increase upper-intermediate level students’ capabilities in English in all areas: grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening, reading and writing, and this to the B2 level of the CEF (Common European Framework) established by the Council of Europe. The BYA20 course follows the BYA8 course. For a brief summary of what is involved in the B2 level of English see the Anotace.
Students will extend their language skills and vocabulary and grammar knowledge. The target level is B1++ according to CEFR.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Clive Oxenden, Christina Latham-Koenig: New English File Upper-Intermediate. Oxford University Press., 2008. ISBN 978-0-19-451957-1. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Type of course unit

 

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Roger Turland, BA.

Syllabus

This course is no longer offered.

Wk 1 2A: Review of narrative tenses + used to and would; summer jobs in a design office/abroad, memories Wk 2 1A: Work and motivation (work-related vocabulary); the advantages and disadvantages of working in (the student's) chosen field Homework: Reading/mini-presentation Job adverts – a job I could do now/after graduating – or my 'ideal job' - for Week 12 Wk3 1A: Discourse markers 1 – linkers; job applications and cover letters Written homework: job application, CV and cover letter – to be submitted by Week 6 Wk 4 3B: Discourse markers 2 – Adverbs and adverbial expressions; history (vocabulary) Wk 5 4B: Adding emphasis 1 – inversion; discussion of books/films, reviews Wk 6 5A: Distancing; multitasking and time management Wk 7 5A: Time and technology; expressions with the noun 'time' (vocabulary) Wk 8: IT/software-related vocabulary Wk 9 5B: Unreal uses of past tenses; money (vocabulary), money and happiness Wk 10 6B: Conditionals (including mixed conditionals) Wk 11 6B: Adjectives and prepositions; addictions and obsessions Wk 12 4A: Mini-presentation: A job I could do now/after graduating – or my 'ideal job'; sounds and the human voice (vocabulary) Week 13: Revision/catching up/test