Standardising Oral Assessment with the CEFR descriptors

References and Links

Testing and Assessing Spoken English: What do we need to think about to get it right? – Dave Allan, APPI Conference, Lisbon 2009

What’s the use of the CEFR? - A personal view of the ‘Common European Framework’ from Dave Allan

Standardising oral assessment with CEFR descriptors – Michele Majewski, APPI conference, Lisbon 2009

Europe's framework promotes language discussion, not directives
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/apr/15/tefl6

Are Europe's tests being built on an 'unsafe' framework?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/mar/18/tefl2

The shaky ground beneath the CEFR: Quantitative and qualitative dimensions of language proficiency - Jan H. Hulstijn, Amsterdam Center for Language and Communication, University of Amsterdam
http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/j.h.hulstijn/bestanden/Hulstijn%20contribution%20to%20MLJ%2091%2020%20Feb07.pdf

From the Common European Framework of Reference to the European Language Portfolio – David Little
http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Linguistic/Source/SourceForum07/D-Little_handout_EN.pdf

From the Common European Framework of Reference to the European Language Portfolio – David Little
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Source/SourceForum07/D-LITTLE_Mardi12h30_3_Hemi.ppt

The Common European Framework in its political and educational context
http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Linguistic/Source/Framework_EN.pdf

Teacher’s Guide to the Common European Framework
http://www.pearsonlongman.com/ae/cef/cefguide.pdf

Common Reference Levels: Self Assessment Grid
http://www.linguanet-europa.org/pdfs/self-assessment-grid-en.pdf

Council of Europe – LP Self-assessment grids and checklists
http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Portfolio/?L=E&M=/main_pages/levels.html

Yiddish and Ladino

Here are the links about Yiddish and Ladino.

The BBC programme about Yiddish is here:

Part One
Part Two

Don't leave it too long if you want to hear this, as the BBC doesn't always keep its programmes available for long.

The BBC's Yiddish Slide show is here.

The ABC Radio National programme featuring Yasmin Levy is here.
What's nice about ABC's podcasts is they usually have the transcript of the programme available, so you can listen and read if you want to.
Do check out Yasmin Levy's website, and listen to some of her singing on YouTube. Then buy a CD!

AC2.1-9S Late Compositions

Some people still need to do one more composition. From AC2.1-9S, the following people MUST give in a composition by next Saturday:
Paulo
João
Tiago
Antonio
André P

Ana Rita, Joana, André M, Henrique and Sara, if you wish to do one more composition to try to 'up' your mark, you are welcome to do so. I particularly recommend Ana Rita and Joana do this.

Composition Options:

1. A magazine has invited readers to send in articles with the title, 'My Ideal Holiday'. You decide to write an article in which you describe where you would go, who you would go with, and what you would do. You should discuss how this choice reflects your personality, and consider what we can learn about people from the type of holiday they choose to take.

Write your article.


2. An international magazine is running a series of articles about magazines that students read in different countries. They have asked readers to contribute reviews of magazines they enjoy reading, looking at aspects such as the use of colour and images, layout and design, interesting articles, appeal to young people, and value for money. You decide to write a review of a magazine you enjoy reading.

Write your review.


3. You have recently listened to a radio discussion on the theme of happiness and young people. The radio station has invited young people to send in proposals on how they think life for young people could be made happier in their country. You decide to submit a proposal, giving your ideas on changes in areas such as school, opportunities in further education, home life, personal life, sports and recreational facilities, work opportunities etc.

Write your proposal.

Happiness

For those of you who have been looking at Happiness, here are two links.

First, the link to the 'authentic happiness' website. There are all sorts of questionnaires here, some better than others. You have to register, but I haven't had any problem of spam or anything from this site. I recommend the 'signature strengths' questionnaire, as well as the happiness questionnaire.
Link

Secondly, here's the link to the article about Matthieu Ricard, the happiest man in the world! Officially! Nice article, well worth reading. Enjoy and be happy! :)
Link

Fly!

Who says people can't fly?

Watch this!

:)

Thomas Szasz

Anyone who enjoyed the Youtube video of Thomas Szasz will certainly enjoy Natasha Mitchell of Radio Australia's lively, sometimes combatitive, but always respectful interview with this deliciously sharp and provocative 89-year-old gentleman and psychiatrist. You may or may not agree with what he has to say, but he will, for sure, make you think! Download in mp3, listen online, and/or read the transcript of the interview.

Part One

Part Two

And if you want to hear what other psychiatrists think:

Part Three

Two Language Points

A couple of points which keep repeating themselves in your compositions.

i) Downtown.

Downtown in English is not a noun. You cannot say, for example, 'I meet my friends in the downtown'.

Downtown in English can be used as an adjective, eg 'We met in a downtown restaurant.'

It can also be used as an adverb, eg 'We're going downtown later on - do you want to come too?'

If you find yourself writing 'in the downtown', change it for 'in the town centre' or 'in the city centre'.


ii) Everyday and every day

'Everyday' is an adjective. 'It was an everyday occurence.' 'Violence is part of everyday viewing on tv.'

'Every day' is an adverbial time expression. 'We met every day.' 'Hundreds of visitors come to the museum every day.'
The same is true of the expression 'every time', though there is no adjective, 'everytime'.

These are the kinds of mistakes it's very easy to edit for when you've finished writing a composition. Just read through and see if you've made either of them!

The Tibet Connection

For anyone who found the film 'Kundun' interesting, or who is thinking about writing about that question, here are a couple of related links.

First, an article from 'The Australian', which gives a nice overview of the situation. This is the article which reports that the Chinese State Administration for Religious Affairs has said that the reincarnation of a Buddha 'without government approval is illegal and invalid'.

Secondly, do take a look at Michael Palin's excellent website, and the pages on The Himalaya. You can actually read the whole book and see all the photos from Michael's tv series here.

Finally, a very interesting podcast - a 25-minute radio programme from 'The Tibet Connection'. This would be good listening practice apart from anything else, and the programme is well worth listening to. Details and link to the podcast below.

The Tibet Connection for March 2009

OUR MARCH 09 PROGRAM FEATURES: FROM THE NEWS DESK: WHAT'S ON THE DALAI LAMA'S MIND? Acclaimed travel writer and essayist PICO IYER speaks with Christal Smith about how the Tibetan leader is thinking at this critical historical juncture...WITNESS TO HISTORY: Dolma was just giving birth to a baby girl. Pema Dhondup brings this report about what Dolma saw on those fateful days in March 1959...THE SERF QUESTION: We speak with DR. JOHN POWERS a professor of Asian Studies and Histories at Australian National University, did China liberate Tibetans from the yoke of feudalism as Beijing claims?...TIBET UPDATE REPORT: Executive Producer and Asian Correspondent Rebecca Novick speaks with reporter LHAKPA KYIZOM about what Tibetans in Tibet are feeling and why they continue to protest even in the face of China's severe crackdown...NEWS ROUND UP: Chinese government announces 50th anniversary celebrations of "democratic reform" in Tibet; Tibetans boycott New Year; Tibetan youth dies in custody; clashes with police and monks in Eastern Tibet, and more...

Listen to Entire Program

AC2.1 (CPE1) Easter Homework

1 - Write a review of the film ‘Kundun’, considering how effectively the film puts the the tradition of the Dalai Lama and the history of the Chinese occupation of Tibet into context, and commenting on the current situation of Tibet and the Dalai Lama.

You may wish to consult the links relating to the Tibet issue, above, before you attempt this question.

Write your review


2 - Write a review of the film ‘Thunderball’, considering how well the film reflects the story and characters of the book, and commenting in general on the way books are adapted for the cinema.

Write your review


3 - An international English language student magazine is planning to run a series of articles about the importance of music to people in different countries. It has invited readers to contribute articles. You have decided to write an article about the importance of music to people in your country. Write your article, including information about traditions, history, entertainment, and emotions.

Write your article