International ESOL Diploma at Level B2
The Diploma is approved by the UK's Border Agency as evidence of English proficiency for skilled and highly skilled migrants wishing to work, live and study in the UK.
It is also accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and is on the National Qualifications Framework of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NQF).
The International ESOL Diploma (9992) is a combination of City and Guilds International ESOL (8984) and International Spoken (8985).
The qualification assesses all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
For more in depth details visit http://www.cityandguilds.com/38896.html
Course Description
The course covers:
Listening
The candidate will be able to:
- understand standard spoken English delivered at normal speed
- follow short conversations both formal and informal in a range of familiar situations understanding gist, context, purpose, function, attitude, feelings, opinions and relationships
- follow a conversation and predict the likely outcome
- understand narratives, sequences, instructions, descriptions and explanations
- identify the function of short utterances which may contain idiomatic expressions (see Grammar and Functions sections)
- follow a discussion to identify gist, detail, purposes and key ideas and distinguish between fact and opinion
- extract and reproduce key information from announcements, media broadcasts, presentations and lectures including abstract and concrete topics encountered in personal, social, academic and vocational life
- follow clearly structured extended speech and more complex argument when familiar with the topic.
Phonological features
- recognise how intonation, pitch and/or stress can affect meaning
- recognise feelings, moods, attitudes, important points and opinions expressed through stress, pitch and intonation.
Range
- understand ideas, arguments and descriptions expressed through complex sentence forms
- understand some lower frequency vocabulary and expressions relating to everyday life and current events.
Register
- recognise degrees of formality used by speakers in different types of utterances in everyday and less familiar situations.
Understanding gist
- understand the main ideas in longer but clearly structured announcements, conversations and discussions on familiar and unfamiliar concrete and abstract topics.
Understanding detail
- extract the more salient points of detail from longer but clearly structured texts on familiar and unfamiliar topics and on both concrete and abstract topics.
Reading
The candidate will be able to:
- understand texts in different styles and purposes with a large degree of independence
- understand the main ideas in complex texts on both familiar and abstract topics
- understand the way meaning is built up in a range of texts
- locate specific information from different parts of a text or different texts
- understand feelings, opinions, warnings and conditions in both formal and informal text
- understand lengthy texts containing complex instructions or explanations
- understand articles and reports concerned with contemporary issues in which the writers adopt particular viewpoints
- locate and understand information, ideas and opinions from longer more specialised sources in familiar contexts.
Range
- understand a broad range of vocabulary but may experience some difficulty with low frequency idioms
- understand texts which contain a broad range of grammatical structures.
Register
- understand the features of register in texts including those conveying emotion or dispute.
Text structure
- recognise how purpose is achieved in a range of texts including those containing images, graphical and tabular data
- understand a broad range of discourse markers including those expressing addition, cause and effect, contrast, sequence and time.
Writing
The candidate will be able to:
- write coherently on topics of general interest linking ideas appropriately and effectively
- write clear connected text describing real or imaginary people or events
- present an argument giving points for and against, supporting and evaluating different views
- write formal letters, reports or articles to fulfil a range of functions for practical purposes
- write letters descriptions of personally significant events, people or experiences.
- use correct punctuation in formal and informal writing to enhance meaning
- correctly spell words used in work, study and daily life
- control grammar to communicate effectively although errors may occur when complex structures are attempted
- use words and expressions appropriate to topic and purpose of the writing
- adjust register in familiar contexts to suit purpose and readership
- use a range of linking words effectively to show clearly the relationship between ideas
- paragraph appropriately
- reproduce conventional features of common types of text.
Grammar
Candidates may be exposed to the grammar required for the level above, but will not be tested on it.
Assessment
This is covered by taking two papers;
- International Spoken ESOL (8985) which assess real speaking ability through a one to one structured interview
- International ESOL (8984) – a single exam paper which covers listening, reading and writing.
Course Duration
Twelve months
Course Start Date(s)
September
Study Type
Full time
Fees
£2500
Entry Requirements
Candidates must have a standard of English at B1 Level