Eaquals International Conference, 16 – 18 April 2015 Making the Core Inventory work Mila Angelova Malaga, 17 th April, 2015 www.eaquals.org
Eaquals International Conference, 16 – 18 April 2015
Making the Core Inventory work
Mila Angelova
Malaga, 17th April, 2015
www.eaquals.org
Aims of the session
1. Getting familiar with the Core Inventory of the British Council & EAQUALS
books-british-council-eaquals-core-inventory.pdf 2. Exploring the Core Inventory for practical purposes: how can we use it on a daily basis?
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Getting familiar
Task 1: Look at the table provided. Tick the language you consider CORE for B1 level. Compare with another group.
Task 2: What level are these: functions / grammar items / discourse markers / vocabulary / topics? Compare answers with the CI handout.
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Grammar Items B1
• Adverbs
• Broader range of intensifiers such
• as too, enough
• Comparatives and superlatives
• Complex question tags
• Conditionals, 2nd and 3rd
• Connecting words expressing
• cause and effect, contrast etc.
• Future continuous
• Modals - must/can’t deduction
• Modals – might, may, will, probably
• Modals – should have/might have/etc
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Grammar items B1 (2)
• Modals: must/have to
• Past continuous
• Past perfect
• Past simple
• Past tense responses
• Phrasal verbs, extended
• Present perfect continuous
• Present perfect/past simple
• Reported speech (range of tenses)
• Simple passive
• Wh- questions in the past
• Will and going to, for prediction
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What’s the rationale behind the CI?
Represents the core of English language, taught at CEFR levels A1 to C1, and aims at:
• making the CEFR tangible and provide support / guidance for teachers / syllabus designers
• making the teaching & planning process more transparent
• providing support for self-directed study
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How was it created?
1. Data collection & analysis of the following sources:
• the language implied by the CEFR descriptors; • common content of EAQUALS schools syllabi; • content of different series of popular course
books; • teacher surveys 2. Validation of results 3. Writing the exponents 4. Creation of CEFR-based scenarios
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Options for practical application
Thinking task:
In your groups, please discuss how the Core Inventory can be used for practical purposes.
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Options for practical application
• Calibrating achievement tests
• Syllabus and course design
• Placement testing
• Material design
• Choice of course books
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The Core Inventory: a link between key aspects of ELT
• Core Inventory applications
diagram X 10.xlsx
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