Cambridge CELTA Pre-Interview Task

Name: Pablo Chuqun

Complete this task carefully. It is an important factor in considering your application. CELTA is an intensive course of study. Because of this, candidates need to be fully prepared for the demands of the course and show that they are able to research language structures, a skill required of ESL teachers. Keep in mind that we cover language analysis on the CELTA course, so we do not expect you to be an expert in grammar before the course starts.

To help you may refer to a grammar book such as Practical English Usage by Michael Swan (Oxford University Press) or any other grammar reference book you might have at home or find in the library/book store. The internet is also a great source of information. If youre looking for a site, try: http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/English

Please make sure you read the directions for each section and proofread your work carefully. The CELTA course requires a high level of written English. When you have finished, please send it to info@teachinghouse.com. Retain a copy of this task for your interview.

Part one: Language awareness A. Error correction

Each of the exchanges below contains a mistake. In each case: i) write the corrected version in the space provided ii) clarify your correction in simple English to explain the mistake Example Mr. Smith: Giorgio: Do you have much experience in the restaurant business? Yes, Ive been working as a chef since 10 years.

i) ii)

Ive been working as a chef for ten years.

We use since before a point in time for example, since Tuesday, since 1992, since 5 oclock. We use for before a period of time - for example, for two weeks, for six years, for ten minutes. In this case 10 years is a period of time, so we need for. Id like some informations about your courses. Certainly, heres our brochure.

1. Maria: Receptionist:

i) Id like some information about your courses ii) Uncountable nouns cannot be made plural. Information is an uncountable noun, so you cant and an s 2. Jack: Pierre: How do you get to the CELTA center every day? Im walking and then taking the subway.

i) I walk and then take the subway ii) Use the present simple I walk when you talk about routines. Use the present continuous Im walking when talking about actions that are happening right now or around now. 3. John: Helen: John: Did you see the movie on HBO last night? Yes I did, it was so a good movie Yeah, I think Tom Cruise is such a good actor. (Comment on the difference between so and such)

i) It was such a good movie or the movie was so good. ii) We use so plus an adjective (the movie was so good). We use such plus a noun phrase (He is such a good actor) 4. Carla: William: Can you borrow me $10? Sure. Here you are.

i) Can you lend me $10?

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ii) You borrow something. You lend someone something. Lend takes an indirect object, while borrow doesnt.

B. Differences in meaning
Comment on the difference in meaning between the following pairs of sentences, and outline how you might teach these differences in meaning. Example: a) Claire is working late again; shes so passionate about her work! b) Jane is working late again; shes so obsessed with her work! In the first sentence, the word passionate suggests that Claires reason for working late is that she is driven by a love for her job and a healthy desire to succeed. In the second sentence, the word obsessed suggests that Claires reason for working late is that she lacks a healthy balance in her life. She is so fixated on her work that perhaps she doesnt do anything else, or perhaps other areas of her life are negatively affected. To teach it, I would draw two pictures (or bring in two photographs). The first would be of a person working at her desk in an office. I would show the time with a clock on the wall (showing 9:30 pm). She would have a smile on her face to show that she was happy (and passionate about her work!) For the second sentence, I would have a picture of Jane at her desk in her office, but she would look tired (and a little stressed). The time would still be 9:30pm on the clock. I hope these two examples would show the positive/negative aspects of the two sentences. 1. a) She is alone. b) She is lonely.

In the first sentence, alone suggests that there are no other people in the room. The speaker is the only person there. In the second sentence, lonely suggest that the person is unhappy because she is not with other people. To teach it, I would bring two pictures. The first one would depict a person working on a computer in her room. The second picture would should a sad person in the middle of a crowd. I hope that these two pictures can show that you can be alone (Without other people) or lonely (sad because you miss people even if you are not alone)
2. a) What time is it? b) Do you mind telling me what the time is please?

The difference lies in the level of formality. Whereas the first one is a direct question which is used in informal situations, the second one is an indirect question which is often heard in formal settings or when you speak to strangers with the aim of sounding formal. In order to teach it, I would use two pictures. The first one should show a person asking his friend for the time and in the second one a person asking a complete stranger for the time. I would highlight the fact that in an indirect question, the main question takes a sentence form, so you dont use what is the time but what the time is
3. a) If I become president, Ill lower taxes. b) If I had become president, I would have lowered taxes.

Although both conditionals refer to hypothetical situations, the first one refers to the unreal present and the second one refers to the unreal past. So as to teach it, I would show the following examples. Hypothetical Situation If I become the president, Ill lower taxes If I had become the president, I would have lowered taxes.
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Real Situation I am not the president now, so I wont lower taxes I was not the president in the past, so I didnt lower taxes

C. Word Stress
All words of more than two syllables in English have one specific syllable which is stressed. For example, in the noun record (bought in a record store) the stressi.e. the louder syllableis the first syllable: REcord Oo. But in the verb to record (e.g. Elvis tried to record an album every year) the stress is on the second syllable reCORD oO. With the following words, put the word into the correct column below according to the number of syllables and the main stress. examples: momentous computer oO record (verb) superb banana bystander burger Oo menu record (noun) burger hospitality superb ratio Ooo bystander ratio photograph menu independent photograph oOo banana momentous computer undeniable photographer ooOo independent reliable photographic oOoo reliable photographer ooOoo hospitality undeniable photographic

D. Sounds
Match the underlined sound of the words in column A to a word in column B with a corresponding sound. Note: the sound can correspond to any sound in the words in Column B. For example: advice goes with sip. Beware! The spelling of the sound may be different! Column A Correct Letter F H C G B E D A a. unit b. jump c. eight d. though e. thick f. sip g. week h. zoo Column B

i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii.

advice advise day beach lodge thin breathe young

Part two: Approaches to teaching and learning

Write a minimum of 100 words about what you think constitutes a good language lesson, based on your experiences.

To the best of my knowledge, a good language lesson is created when three elements are taken into consideration. To begin with, it is of the uttermost importance that teachers engage their students. If students are engaged, a good learning experience takes place. Another important factor is rapport. That is, it is vital that an educator build relationship with his students, thereby gaining their confidence and trust. Finally, that a teacher be patient is crucial. They should understand that challenges arise upon
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learning something new and they need to find different ways to get their students to strive for success.

Disclosure
Before submitting your pre-interview task, please read the points below and type your name with the date below. If you have any questions concerning these points, please send your queries to info@teachinghouse.com.
1. I understand and acknowledge that if I decide to withdraw from a Teaching House CELTA course less than five business days before the course begins, or during the course, the course fee will not be refunded. I understand I will not be allowed to transfer between courses or defer to another course less than 5 business days before the course begins. 2. I acknowledge that the Teaching House CELTA course is a Pass/Fail course, and that if I receive a 'Fail' grade, the result cannot be changed, and that the course fee will not be refunded. 3. I acknowledge that the Teaching House CELTA course requires 100% class attendance, in addition to work outside of scheduled contact hours. As a result, absences, tardiness, incomplete or late assignments may compromise my grade on the course. 4. I confirm that all of the information disclosed in my application is complete and accurate, including any circumstances that may affect my performance on the course. 5. I understand that if I am accepted onto the Teaching House CELTA course, I should pay a $200 enrollment fee to reserve a place on the course of my choice (availability permitting). This fee may be transferred between course start dates within 12 months of my interview date, but is non-refundable. 6. I confirm that the pre-interview task is my own work.

Signature (Please type your name and the date in the space below) Name: Pablo Chuqun Date: Thursday, September 6th, 2012

The Interview
Thank you for completing the pre-interview task! Once we have received the pre-interview task we will get back to you to set up a suitable time for an interview. We run most of our interviews during daytime working hours from Tuesday Friday. Please complete the following grid to give us an idea of the best time for you. Candidates will be calling into our office for telephone interviews. In-person interviews can be held at our centers in New York, Boston and Vancouver. What type of interview would you like? Preferred Interview Time New York City, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles All Times Eastern Standard Time Preferred Interview Time BOSTON ONLY Eastern Standard Time Candidates for all other cities will be contacted to arrange a

In-person
New York, Boston and Vancouver

By telephone
All cities

YES

10:00 AM

12:00 PM

4:30 PM
Available until 7/27

5:15 PM

9:45 AM

10:30 AM

4:30 PM

mutually convenient interview time.

During the next two weeks, are there any dates you are not available? If so, when? Is there any other information that will help us to set up a suitable time for an interview?

Currently, I am in Lima. I am available for interviews in the mornings and afternoons via Skype or telephone. I would like to be provided with information on how to contact you or be contacted.