SWITCH Syllabus UPPER INTERMEDIATE

SWITCH Syllabus UPPER INTERMEDIATE General English Programa de Estudio equivalente a: The Common European Framework & ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe) ALTE Can Do Statements: LEVEL C1

Listening/Speaking CAN contribute effectively to meetings and seminars within own area of work or keep up a casual conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping with abstract expressions.

Reading CAN read quickly enough to cope with an academic course, to read the media for information or to understand non-standard correspondence.

Writing CAN prepare/draft professional correspondence, take reasonably accurate notes in meetings or write an essay which shows an ability to communicate.

Module A: GRAMMAR

ENGLISH IN USE

Present Time

Describing facts and general truths

Present simple, present continuous

I work in an office and live in a flat in the suburbs. The River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea.

Present perfect simple & continuous, Past time

Talking about current and temporary situations

Past simple, past continuous, past

I’m reading one of the Harry Potter books at the moment.

perfect

Expressing annoying habits

Present perfect simple & past simple

He is always getting into trouble.

Describing recent and indefinite events

Used to, would

I’ve been to France three times.

Future Time

Talking aboutnot completed or recently finished actions

Will, going to, future continuous,

We’ve been walking for hours!

future perfect, present continuous,

Susan went into the sation and bought a ticket.

present simple Typical incountable nouns, uncountable nouns that describe a

Describing finished events in the past Talking about continuous actions interrupted by a sudden event While she was trying to get onto the platform, a man grabbed her handbag.

category, change of meaning, plural

Talking about events at different points in the past

nouns, group nouns

By the time the train arrived, she had managed to push her way to the front of the crowd.

Clauses of purpose: so that, infinitive

Expressing habits

of purpose, in order to, so as to, for

I go jogging three times a week. I used to smoke heavily when I was at university. We would lend him money when he was unemployed.

1 SWITCH School of English Av. Pte Roque S Peña 615 7th floor off 716 (C1035AAB) Buenos Aires Argentina Tel/Fax: (5411) 4393-4125/4903-9897 [email protected] www.switchschool.com.ar

Making predictions Perhaps she’ll be late.

Expressing instant decisions I know, I’ll get him a wallet for his birthday.

Describing present intention or plan I’m going to fix the television tomorrow Describing a situation in progress at a particular time in the future This time next year I’ll be living in London.

Looking back from a point in the future By the time I get there, the film will have started.

Describing definite fixed arrangements I’m leaving in the morning. Describing future events based on a timetable My train leaves at 11.30 tomorrow morning.

Expressing purpose Scientists used only local materials, in order to save money.


SWITCH Syllabus UPPER INTERMEDIATE General English Module B: GRAMMAR

Passive voice Future, Perfect, Continuous tenses Using and not mentioning the agent have/get something done, needs doing Relative Clauses Gerunds and infinitives verbs followed by –ing or to infinitive change of meaning, verbs followed by the infinitive or a that clause, verbs followed by –ing or infinitive without to Conditionals Zero conditional

ENGLISH IN USE

Focusing on important information Mr Jones will be arrested. He is said to live in New York. Peter had his car stolen last week. The foor needs cleaning.

Identifying people, and things The book which you lent me is really good.

Providing extra information The book, which I hadn’t read, was on the shelf.

Describing basic truths If I work late, I get tired.

Describing real/likely situations Get me some ciagrettes and I’ll pay you later. Should you see John, can you give him a message?

Describing unreal/imaginary situations If I were taller, I’d join the basketball team.

First conditional

Describing unreal/imaginary past situations

with if, unless, provided, as long as,

If John had studied harder, he would have got better marks.

the imperative, should

Expressing wishes about the present, past and future

Second conditional with if, were Third conditional Wishes and related forms Wishes with could wishes with would, wishes with if oly, it’s time, I’d rather, I’d sooner, I’d prefer, suppose,

I wish I knew the answer to this question. I wish I had gone to the party last week. I wish I could drive. It’s hight time you learned to look after yourself.

Expressing result The bookcase was too big to get down the stairs. There were so many passengers that we couldn’t find a seat.

imagine Clauses of result So/such a, so many/much/few/little, too/not enough +to


SWITCH Syllabus UPPER INTERMEDIATE General English Module C: GRAMMAR

ENGLISH IN USE

Articles

Refering to something for the first time

Indefinite, definite and zero article

I’ve bought a new mobile phone.

All, no, none, each, every, either ,

Refering to something mentioned before The phone connects to the Internet.

neither

Talking general

Modal Verbs: present and past

Expressing general and past ability

Can, could, must, have to, may, might, will, would, should and ought to, need Indirect speech With and without tense changes,

Mobile phones are so useful. I’d like to be able to swim. When I was young, I could run very fast.

Expressing ceratinty and uncertainty That can’t be Sue. She’s in Brazil. She must be having fun. I might go out, I don’t know. I could get wet! Brenda should be home by now. You are bound to see Paula if you go there. You could have been killed.

Expressing obligation questions, commands and requests, reporting verbs, paraphrase Reported Speech Statements , questions, imperatives Clauses of contrast Although, though, eventhough,while,

You must start working harder! You have to turn left there. I had to take the children to school.

Expressing prohibition You mustn’t parke there.

Expressing absence of obligation You don’t have to wear a suit. I didn’t need to arrive at 7.

Giving advice I think you should see a doctor. You’d better not drive.

Expressing criticism You should have told me before.

whereas, however, nevertheless,

Reporting

despite, in spite of

Charles asked me if I liked hamburgers. She suggested going out.

Expressing contrast Although I asked her, she didn’t come. Despite losing, we celebrated.


At the end of the level the learner:

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning.

Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions.

Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes.

Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.
