Thai Nguyen University School of Foreign Languages English Department 2015 B2 Express Coursebook For internal use only Compiled by Nguyễn Dương Hà, M.A Lê Thị Hằng, M.A Đỗ Thị Trang Nhung, M.A English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Contents LESSON - GETTING TO KNOW LESSON - EDUCATION LESSON - CUSTOMS, CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAYS 17 LESSON - SPORTS AND GAMES 27 LESSON - JOBS AND JOB-HUNTING 37 LESSON – MODERN LIVING 45 LESSON – HEALTH AND LIFESTYLE 54 LESSON – HOME, SWEET HOME 61 English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 LESSON - GETTING TO KNOW STARTING OFF Task 1: Discuss these questions with another student a How you generally feel when you meet people for the first time? b What are the things you want to know about people when you first meet them? c In your country, what types of questions are OK to ask on first meeting someone? What types of questions are not OK? In Korea, it’s OK to ask someone’s age, so you know whether to use formal language In Canada, it’s not OK to ask someone’s age because some people don’t like to say how old they are In Mexico, it’s OK to ask about someone’s religion because some people think it’s too personal Task 2: Work in pairs Take turns to ask and answer questions about each other's background Talk about the following - where you were born - where you live now - where you went to school - how many brothers and sisters you have - what you like doing in your free time - how long you've been learning English - if you need English for your work How many similarities and differences are there in your backgrounds? Try to use some of the phrases below in your responses Answering personal questions Well, actually That's a difficult question but… I've never given it much thought, but As a matter of fact, / In fact,… Generally speaking, I… English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Task 3: Make a list of any other questions you could ask your partner about his or her background Think about your own answers to your questions as well Asking for personal information So, tell me what is Could you tell me about ? I’d like to know what… is/would be What would you say… is/would be? Could you describe …? SKILLS FOCUS: PROVIDING INFORMATION Task 4: Below are some possible answers to the questions For each question, decide which you think is the best Give reasons why the other answers are less satisfactory Do you work or are you a student? a I work b I'm currently studying history at Moscow State University I'm in my second year c I work as a dentist in Budapest It's a very rewarding job and I earn good money We get vast numbers of foreigners coming to get dental treatment in Hungary because it's far cheaper here than in many other countries As well as being cheap, we offer high quality dental care and our patients are always happy with our work I had to study for many years to be a dentist but it was worth it People generally respect you for being a dentist as it's considered to be a good job, although perhaps it isn't as prestigious as being a doctor I could have chosen to be a doctor and in fact, this is what my father wanted me to However, I have some friends who are doctors and they say they work very long hours and can't spend enough time with their families I think I made the right career choice Why did you choose that course or job? a I didn't choose it b I chose it because French was always my best subject at school and I enjoy meeting new people I thought interpreting would suit me, therefore, as you have to be a good communicator and of course skilled in foreign languages What is the most difficult thing about your studies or job? English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 a I'm not sure Er I would say the most difficult thing is that we have tight deadlines, so I'll be given a project and then told it's to be completed in one week, which is nowhere near enough time That's difficult but it doesn't stop me enjoying my work b I don't enjoy attending meetings It's often very boring and the meetings last too long Task 5: Listen to two students, Nagwa and Carlos Which question does each of them answer? What you most enjoy doing with your friends? Have you ever had the opportunity to really help a friend? How? Would you prefer to spend your holidays with your family or your friends? What’s your happiest childhood memory? Nagwa…………… Carlos…………… Now listen to them again and say if the following statements are true (T) or false (F) They both give very brief answers They give a few details to support their answers They use a variety of tenses appropriately They speak in a relaxed, natural way Task 6: Match the questions to the responses in the box below Do you live with your family or with friends? Do you have any brothers or sisters? Are you a student or you have a job? Are you interested in football? English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 How you prefer to travel? Where you come from? Have you learned any languages other than English? Are birthdays an important event in your country? How you normally get to college in the morning? 10 What color you like? a No - not at all b I like the train c I'm from a small village in the mountains d I'm a student, e Yes, I have.f Yes, they are, g No, I'm the only child h Well, my favourite color is red, i Actually, I'm staying in a university hall of residence I take thethe trainsentences to Central aStation Task 7:j.Develop – j in Task by adding a phrase or sentence – 10 below In fact, I'm not very interested in any kind of sport, to be honest with you because you can see out of the window or read a book but sometimes you have to fly because of the distances involved a long way from the capital city of my country and I study literature I’m in my second year, and I love my college very much because my friends and teachers are really cool It makes learning there lots of fun I studied Spanish at school although I don't remember very much now and it's customary to share a cake or give a card or present I have ten cousins that I grew up with, so I didn't ever feel lonely so I usually buy my clothes in this color as I think it looks fashionable on me as I'm an overseas student studying here for a year 10 and then I catch the express bus - it takes about an hour altogether Task 8: Work alone Think about how you could answer each of the questions in Task Then work in pairs and take turns to ask and answer the questions Task 9: Write at least two simple questions about each of the topics below Example: What type of music you like listening to? English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Task 10: With a partner, ask and answer the questions you wrote in Task Give extra information to elaborate your answers Use the phrases in the list below to help you I used to…., but now I … What I like about it is … because… The great thing about … is … I suppose most people… Homework Read the questions below and think about how you could answer each of the following questions Are you good at recognizing people you have only met once or twice before? What is the best way for people visiting your country to make friends? Who you think has had the most influence on your life so far? Why? Tell me about a friend of yours and how you got to know him or her Who is the best teacher you've ever had? English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 LESSON - EDUCATION STARTING OFF Work in pairs Find eight reasons for studying abroad by matching the beginning of each sentence (1-8) with its endings (a-h) You live in and learn about a with other ways of thinking You get to know b new people You benefit c new friends You learn d more independent You become e after yourself You learn to look f from other approaches to studying You come in contact g to speak another language You make h another culture Which, for you, are the three best reasons for studying abroad? Can you think of other reasons for studying abroad? Have you studied abroad? If so, why? If not, would you like to? Why (not)? VOCABULARY Task Complete the sentences below about courses with nouns from the list requirements analysis criteria dissertation essay module paper portfolio programme evaluation a In order to study photography, you have to fulfill the course …… , which include a foundation qualification in art b Many people fail at medicine due to the difficulty of meeting the assessment…… c Most mature students enrol on a part-time…… d At the start of each academic year, students choose which core…… they will take e As part of their jobs, many lecturers are expected to submit at least one academic …… per year f Students on the fine art programme are required to present a…… of their work g After collecting your data, you will need to carry out an in-depth of …… it h To get a good mark, students should show they are capable of making a critical …… of the literature i At the end of the course, each student must submit a 4,000-word long …… English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 j After you have submitted your MA …… , you will have to wait about four months for your final grade Task Look at the sentences in Task again Which verb introduces the noun in each case? Task The statements a-j below were made by students about courses they are taking Complete each sentence with a feature from the list research project deadlines easy-going tutors end-of-year examination background reading list extensions weekly seminars individual tuition ongoing assessment practical work vocational content a The tutors provide you with a before the course b As part of our assessment, we have to plan and carry out a c It's a very flexible programme: we have very d It can get very stressful: we are assessed by e Coursework has really fixed You can't get f Everyone gets if they are experiencing difficulties g The course is marked by of written work h I spend a lot of time doing in a laboratory i It's mostly : it will all be useful for my career j There are regular in which people take turns to make presentations SKILLS FOCUS 1: EXTENTION Task Listen to how Nikolai and Magda answer questions What is Nikolai’s favourite subject and what reasons does he give? How will Magda use English in the future? Now listen again and answer the questions below True or false? T They answer the questions very briefly English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page F English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 They give reasons for their answers They sound positive and enthusiastic when they are speaking Tips:  Listen carefully to the question and make sure your answers are relevant  Answer the question and where possible: - give reasons for your answer, or - add a little extra information Task Work in pairs Take turns to ask your partner the question in the box Student A Can you describe the school you go to / went to? What would you like to study in the future if you had the chance? Why? How much homework students in your country generally do? Can you tell me what you most enjoy about learning English? Tell me about the best teacher you’ve ever had? Student B Do you prefer studying alone or with other people? Why? Can you remember your first day at school? Tell me about it Would you like to study in a different country? Why (not)? How important are exams in your country? How important is learning English to you? SKILLS FOCUS 2: PHOTO COMPARISION AND CONTRAST English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 10 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 TASK Correct the mistakes in the following expressions used for giving your opinion TASK In pairs, discuss what you think is important for a healthy lifestyle Use the language in the table You can also use your own ideas English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 59 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 TASK Using concession to talk about two sides of a healthy lifestyle Look at the pictures and the notes and make sentences Use although/even though, despite/in spite of E.g TASK Supporting your statements and opinions Statements and opinions need to be supported by facts, examples or arguments English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 60 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 A Complete sentences 1-5 with the supporting information a-e Eating a balanced diet is much better than taking medicine I disagree with the idea of flu vaccinations I believe that positive thinking can help you overcome illness, including cancer Many people think that reducing stress is the key to improving your health It’s generally believed that taking up sport is a good idea a because in my experience they don’t often work b because you are preventing illness, not simply curing it c as it reduces the chances of a heart attack d since it helps you lose weight and keeps you fit e as many studies of patients have proved this to be true B Provide support for statements – It’s more important to spend money on AIDS research than cancer research… I think that smokers often have colds… It’s generally understood that senior businesspeople suffer a lot from stress… Waiting lists to undergo surgery are too long… English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 61 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 I believe that people who not vaccinate their children are irresponsible… - SKILLS FOCUS TALKING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHS TASK 10 Work in pairs Look at the six photographs on this page and discuss these questions What all six photographs have in common? Which of these activities are popular with people in your country? How would you explain this? Work in pairs: Student A and Student B Read this exam task related to Set A of the photos Here are your pictures They show people involved in physical activities I’d like you to compare two of the activities, and say how effective they are as a means of keeping fit, and why they are so popular Student A: Prepare to talk for one minute about these photos, then talk about your two photos, with student B listening English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 62 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Student B: You then answer this question: Which groups of people get the most benefit from activities like these? Now read this exam task related to Set B of the photos Here are your pictures They show people involved in demanding physical activities I’d like you to compare two of the activities, and say what qualities a person needs to succeed in them, and why people want to participate in them Student B: Prepare to talk for one minute about these photos, then talk about your two photos, with student A listening Student A: You then answer this question: How are activities like these different from sports like football or basketball? (R20) Listen to two people answering the tasks that you have been doing Discuss these questions in pairs Which candidate you think does the task more successfully, the woman or the man? What advice would you give each candidate to help them better next time? HOMEWORK Practice answering these questions Keeping fit What are the best ways to keep fit? Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or they find it fun? What is the most popular form of exercise in your country? Healthy lifestyles Do you think people in your country are less healthy than they used to be? How can we encourage young people to stay healthy? Should governments intervene to force people to be healthier? LESSON – HOME, SWEET HOME STARTING OFF Work alone instructions Take out a piece of paper, and follow these English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 63 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Draw a house Draw the front house Add windows Draw an arrow () where you want your bedroom Add a garden Draw a picture of yourself next to the house The teaching is going to tell you what your drawing says about your personality Do you agree with the analysis? Why or why not? TASK A Work alone Go around the class, and ask the questions Write the number of people who prefer each thing English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 64 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 TASK English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 65 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 E.g In picture A, I can see a modern semi-detached home It looks quite spacious and probably has two or three bedrooms It has a small front garden and a garage I think it’s reasonably priced TASK Listen Ann and Tom are talking about their dream homes Which home you think each person would prefer? Write each name under the correct picture English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 66 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Pairwork Answer these questions Which home would you prefer? why? What you want in your dream home? SKILLS FOCUS: Preferences / Comparisons TASK E.g English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 67 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 68 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 TASK E.g A: A good thing about living in the countryside is that you are close to nature and get lots of fresh air! The pace of life is slower there so you don’t get so stressed B: That’s true On the other hand, there isn’t much to there, so you might find it boring English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 69 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Use the useful vocabulary section below to help you prepare your answer to the question English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 70 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 SKILLS FOCUS: Talking from notes TASK Useful vocabulary About where you live… English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 71 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Questions for discussion: HOMEWORK English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 72 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 73 ... proficiency – Level B2 2015 Contents LESSON - GETTING TO KNOW LESSON - EDUCATION LESSON - CUSTOMS, CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAYS 17 LESSON - SPORTS AND GAMES... easy-going tutors end-of-year examination background reading list extensions weekly seminars individual tuition ongoing assessment practical work vocational content a The tutors provide you with... the conversation English Department, School of Foreign Languages, TNU Page 20 English oral proficiency – Level B2 2015 Keeping the discussion moving Agreeing Disagreeing Reaching a decision Task