Course handbook

Level 1
NLS
ESOL

2016/2017

Nls

ESOL

Welcome to your ESOL Level 1 course. The course is aimed at helping you learn
and develop your language skills at Level 1 and to build on the necessary speaking,
listening, reading and writing strategies in order to progress to a Level 2 course.
1

You will be sitting for your ESOL Skills for Life exams this year. During your
Level 1 course you will:

Developyour
communication
skillsinEnglishat
Level1

Expressstatementsof
factsindiscussionsand
presentinformationand
ideasinalogical
sequence(using
discoursemarkers)

Recogniseand
understandthe
vocabularyassociated
withdifferenttypesof
text,usingappropriate
strategiestoworkout
meaning

Writearangeofformal
andinformaltextsusing
complexsentences,
punctuation,accurate
spellingandhavea
criticalawarenessof
handwriting

Course outline
Mock Exam
Gateway ESOL Skills for Life Qualification - Speaking and Listening
Level 1 exam on 31/10/16
Mock Exam
Gateway ESOL Skills for Life Qualification - Reading
Level 1 exam on 20/02/17
Mock Exam
Gateway ESOL Skills for Life Qualification - Writing
Level 1 exam on 05/06/17

16/17 A

05/09/2016

09/12/2016

16/17 B

04/01/2017

24/03/2017

16/17 C

27/03/2017

07/07/2017

You can get the following qualifications:

ESOL Qualifications at Level 1 in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing
At Level 1 you will be required to acquire specific vocabulary and grammatical structures to
enhance your speaking and writing. Here are some examples:
2

Using English properly entails appropriate choices in formality and the ESOL curriculum pays
particular attention to these choices. The key features of informal and formal usage in English
are:
General
Informal English is normally used in most face-to-face encounters or when communication is
with somebody the speaker or writer knows well.
Formal English is normally used for communication when relations are more unfamiliar.
Features of formal English are normally found more frequently in writing; features of informal
English are normally found more frequently in speech.
The language choices indicated here are tendencies and are not fixed choices. In any language
there is always a continuum from formal to informal and across speech and writing.
Language features
The main characteristics of informal English include:
1. Discourse markers such as anyway, well, right, now, OK, so, which organise and link whole
stretches of language.
2. Grammatical ellipsis: Sounds good (That sounds good); Spoken to Jim today (Ive spoken to
Jim today);
Nice idea (That was a nice idea) in which subjects, main verbs and sometimes articles are
omitted. The omissions assume the message can be understood by the recipient.
3. Purposefully vague language. This includes very frequent nouns such as thing and stuff and
phrases such as I think, I dont know, and all that, or so, sort of, whatever, etc. which serve to
approximate and to make statements less assertive.
4. Single words or short phrases which are used for responding. For example, Absolutely,
Exactly, I see.
5. Frequent use of personal pronouns, especially I and you and we, often in a contracted form
such as Id or weve.
6. Modality is more commonly indicated by means of adjectives and adverbs such as possibly,
perhaps, certain and modal phrases such as be supposed to, be meant to, appear to, tend to.
7. Clause structure which often consists of several clauses chained together. For example, Im
sorry but I cant meet you tonight and the cats ill which doesnt help but call me anyway.
The main characteristics of formal English include
1. Conjunctions and markers such as accordingly, therefore, subsequently, which organise logical
and sequential links between clauses and sentences.
2. Complete sentences. For example: The proposal sounds interesting; I have spoken to Jim
today; Thats a nice idea are preferred to more elliptical forms.
3. Greater precision in choices of vocabulary and, in general, words with classical origins. For
example, fire is more informal than conflagration; home is more informal than domicile.
4. Complete responses that always contain a main finite verb. For example, I absolutely agree
with what you say is preferred to Agreed.
5. A greater use of nouns than either pronouns or verbs. There are improvements in their
technology is preferred to Their technology has improved. The installation will be free is
preferred to Theyll install it free.
6. Modality is more commonly conveyed through the use of modal verbs such as must, might,
3

could, should etc.

7. Clause structure which can be simple or complex but which does not normally consist of
clauses chained together. I cannot meet you tonight because the cat is unfortunately unwell.
However, please do call me anyway.

*Taken from the onlive Level 1 ESOL adult curriculum

Course information

Your class

days: and

time:

room(s)

..

Your teacher(s)

name(s) .

phone number: .

email: ..

@newham.ac.uk
Personal Learning Plan
At the start of your
This is
what youve
achieved so
far

This is
where you
are now

course, you and your

teacher will draw a
plan for your learning
(Personal Learning
Plan PLP). You and

This is
where you
want to get
to

This is how
you are
doing

your teacher will

review your progress
during every class and
at the end of the term.

Course

This is how
you will get
expectations
and
there

your responsibilities

Be punctual at all times. If you need to be late you must tell us in

advance, and provide evidence of the reason for lateness.

Maintain attendance of at least 90%. Learners with less than 90% are
considered to be a risk and you may lose your place on the course.

Develop independent learning skills by participating in blogs, forums,

engaging in reading books etc. As we take a university approach to
5

studying, you will have to access New Learning and study the topic in
advance in order to demonstrate your knowledge in the class.

Follow the reading list attached religiously as it will help you develop
stronger analytical and writing skills.

On your course
Inform your teachers should you have any problems that might affect
your learning or studying.

Participate in classroom activities and take lead when the opportunity

arises (e.g. projects).

Explore how studying fits with your other responsibilities, and allow time
to complete all the necessary tasks. Take responsibility for your own
learning.

Key Policies you need to know about:

Safeguarding Policy and procedure
Inclusion
Attendance and Punctuality
Equality & Diversity
Health & Safety / Childcare
Hardship Fund

STUDENT REPRESENTATION
Your group will choose a course representative at the beginning of the course. Your course
representative will go to course team meetings and give your views of the course and college.
NOT HAPPY?
If you are unhappy with your course please speak to your Course Teacher. If you are not
happy with what he/she says please talk to the manager who will help you resolve the
issues.

EQUIPMENT and MATERIALS

You will need the following:

English dictionary (Advanced)

Bilingual dictionary

Stationery

Headphones

INDEPENDENT STUDY MATERIALS

1. http://new-learning.newham.ac.uk/ - Access your Level 2 resources before your attend
your class (ESOL Central / Level 2 / choose appropriate week number)
2. New Cutting Edge Third Edition Advanced Students Book by Sarah Cunningham/ Peter
Moore and Jonathan Bygrave (Pearson)
3. Face2face Advanced Workbook by Nicholas Tims with Chris Redston & Gillie
Cunningham (CUP)
4. Grammar and Vocabulary for Advanced, Book with Answers and Audio (Self-Study
Grammar Reference and Practice) by Martin Hewings and Simon Haines

USEFUL WEBSITES
StudySkills
http://www2.open.ac.uk/students/skillsforstudy/index.php

DictionariesandTranslationLinks
http://www.academicenglishcafe.com/dictionariesandtranslators.html

AcademicEnglish:http://aeo.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/
Grammar
http://www.englishgrammarlessons.com/
http://esl.about.com/blgrammar.htm
http://www.academicenglishcafe.com/grammarandwriting.html

ReferencingSkills
CardiffUniversity
HarvardCompiletheReferencesActivity(Onlineinteractive)
https://ilrb.cf.ac.uk/citingreferences/correctorder/index.html
UniversityofGloucestershire
HarvardReferencingTutorial(Onlineinteractive)
http://ist.glos.ac.uk/referencing/harvard/activity.html

http://www.academicenglishcafe.com/researchcitation.html

Paraphrasing
Howtoparaphraseasource
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase2.html
SuccessfulvUnsuccessfulParaphrases
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_paraphrase.html
IntroducingQuotations
http://writing.wisc.edu/Handbook/QPA_quoting.html
TheOpenUniversityOpenlearn
Paraphrasingtext
http://www.open.edu/openlearn/historythearts/culture/englishlanguage/paraphrasingtext/contentsection1

The FLEX (Library) has a lot of books and magazines. Please ask your Course Teacher for
advice.
Reading List for 2016/17
Ensure the mandatory materials are read by the deadlines agreed with your tutor.
TermA
RefugeeBoy(byBenjaminZephaniah)abook
TermB
Airport(byArthurHailey)areaderavailableatourFlex
TermC
StoriesfromAsia(byMichaelMarlandandMadhuBhinda)areaderavailableatourFlex

10

11