CAMBRIDGE CELTA: PRE-INTERVIEW TASKS - smu.ca

1 CAMBRIDGE CELTA: PRE-INTERVIEW TASKS Name: _____ Course: _____ Date: _____ There are two parts to this task: 1. Part One is a language awareness & analysis task. 2. Part Two is an extended writing task. Please complete both at home. The purposes of the TASKS are: to form part of the selection process, and to give you as an applicant an idea of the nature of some aspects of the CELTA course. For Part One, it is recommended that you refer to an English grammar book; some suggestions are: Language An A-Z of English Grammar and Usage, Leech, Cruikshank and Ivanic (Longman) Teaching Tenses, Rosemary Aitken (ELB Publishing) Practical English Usage, 4th Edition, Micheal Swan (Oxford University Press) Learner English, 2nd Edition, Swan and Smith ( CAMBRIDGE University Press) Additional recommended reading: Methodology Learning Teaching, Third Edition, Jim Scrivener (Macmillan) The Practice of English Language Teaching, Fifth Edition, Jeremy Harmer (Pearson) Part One.

2 Language Awareness & Analysis Please write your answers to Part One in the spaces provided. Use the reverse side of the sheet if you need more space. If you use a reference book to help you answer any part of this task, please state the author, title and page number as appropriate. I certify that the completed task is my own work: .. 1 Verb forms Write a short example sentence for each of the following verb forms. Underline the form, like this: present simple She works as a German teacher. present continuous/progressive present perfect present perfect continuous/progressive past simple past continuous/progressive past perfect past perfect continuous/progressive future perfect 2 Different future forms List four different forms that can be used to express a future idea, and then write a short example sentence for each one, like this: will form, used for predictions Tomorrow will be warm and sunny in the 3 Other verb forms and constructions List five examples of modal verbs.

3 Write an example of a conditional sentence that refers to the past in some way. Explain what the terms real and hypothetical refer to in connection with conditional sentences and write an example of each. 4 Nouns, adjectives etc. Give four examples of countable nouns, and four examples of uncountable nouns. Countable Uncountable Write out the comparative and superlative forms of these adjectives: Adjective Comparative Superlative Adjective Comparative Superlative big cool expensive tired lovely bad What is the difference (if any) between these pairs of sentences?

4 I don t like some vegetables. / I don t like any vegetables. The students, who were lazy, failed the exam. / The students who were lazy failed the exam. 5 Functions Identify the function of the following sentences, like this: Would you like a cup of coffee? = an offer If you help me with my tax return, I ll take you out for dinner. _____ If you say that again, I ll hit you! _____ How about going to Greece this year for a change? _____ Could you close the door please? _____ 6 Review Complete the following sentences: Continuous/progressive forms are constructed using the auxiliary verb _____ and the _____ participle.

5 Perfect forms are constructed using the auxiliary verb _____ and the _____ participle. 7 Pronunciation Say these words and then mark where the main stress falls, like this: November hotel Japanese application photographer develop apply American photograph developmental career enter regret impressive probability Japan Now say the sentence below. What differences in meaning can be expressed by stressing different words?

6 Give details on the reverse side of this sheet. : John didn t send me a letter from the States. John didn t send me a letter from the States. John didn t send me a letter from the States. John didn t send me a letter from the States. 8 Vocabulary An intermediate learner asks you to explain the difference in meaning between the following pairs of words. What would you say to her or him? lend / borrow thin / skinny cancel / postpone 9 Proof reading task Read the following paragraph: highlight any corrections that are necessary, and write the correct version in the column on the right.

7 It may seem a little ridiculous to think, that people deliberately buy imitations. But, that is most definatly true of costume jewellery from the 1930s what now sells for hundred s of pounds and increasingly popular in America and Europe. The term costume jewellery is relatively new, but such jewellery has been around since the people first decorated themselves with bones and shells. The Romans, in particular took delight in making imitation jewells from glass and ceramics and combine them with valueable stones. The eighteenth century saw an improvment with the arrival of hand cut glass, now refered to as paste.

8 Besides, the realy exiting revolution in costume jewellery is attributed to french designer Coco Chanel, who turned away from pure imitation off previous designs in favour of jewellery made to be valued in it s own right. She even accomodated plastics in her designs, producing colors and shapes never seen before. A few years ago, her pieces could have been brought relatively cheaply, now they are in great demand and consequently extremely expensive. No way your ever going to find one in a fleamarket! From John Potts - Volkshochschule Zurich In the box below, comment on any inconsistencies (of style, language, organisation, etc.)

9 That you found in the text. Part 2 Extended Writing (This can be typed) Write about 250-300 words on what makes a good teacher. You should pay attention to clear expression, grammar, spelling & punctuation.