International ESOLA1 PRELIMINARY LEVEL SYLLABUSSkills, Topics, Functions, and Grammar

A1 - Preliminary level requirementsSkills, Topics, Functions and Grammar

A1

A1

A1 - Preliminary level requirementsSkills, Topics, Functions and Grammar

Skills

Listening

The candidate will be able to:follow carefully and slowly articulated speech which contains long pauses and repetition to •allow the listener to process the informationfollow short conversations in everyday situations on topics concerning self, family and •immediate surroundings, and understand gist, context and the relationship between speakersunderstand very simple questions, statements, accounts, narratives and single-step •instructions spoken carefully and slowlyfollow short, simple directions and explanations•identify the function of short utterances (see Grammar and Functions sections which follow)•extract key information from conversations to complete a simple task.•

Phonological featureslisten for phonological detail to distinguish between similar words.•

Rangeunderstand key grammatical forms used in very common everyday familiar contexts•recognise familiar words and very basic phrases concerning self, family and immediate •concrete surroundings.

Understanding gistunderstand the main ideas of short explanations and conversations•identify speakers, context and topic of short conversations.•

Understanding detailextract key words, numbers and spellings from short statements and explanations.•

Reading

The candidate will be able to:understand very short simple narratives and descriptions, single-step instructions, simple •directions, and simple explanations a single phrase at a time with time to re-read for confirmation and/or clarificationrecognise the purposes of short texts where the purpose and intended audience is clear•locate specific information in short texts•understand viewpoints if made clearly and simply.•

Rangeunderstand very familiar names, words and phrases in simple common texts found in •everyday life

A1

understand isolated words, short simple phrases and understand grammatical structures •that link clauses and help identify time referenceunderstand the meanings conveyed by capital letters and full stops in very simple •sentences.

Registerunderstand simple social courtesies.•

Text structureunderstand the organisational, lexical and grammatical features of short simple texts•recognise different purposes of simple texts through layout conventions, common signs •and symbols.

Writing

The candidate will be able to:write to communicate simple information to a sympathetic reader•compose simple sentences to communicate ideas or basic•information about a topic connected to personal information or knowledge•write a short letter, card, postcard and message using simple phrases and sentences to •communicate ideas and basic information about themselves, where they live and what they dowrite very simple descriptions, accounts and routines, single-step instructions and •directions in familiar contextsexpress likes, dislikes and preferences in relation to familiar topics.•use punctuation and capital letters correctly to show beginnings and ends of sentences, •proper nouns, personal pronoun ‘I’spell correctly personal key words and familiar words•construct simple phrases and sentences using only basic grammatical structures•use a basic range of vocabulary to deal with simple and familiar topics and tasks•write simple sentences on familiar topics•write a short sequence of simple sentences to form a basic message•

The text types candidates at this level will be required to produce are as follows:informal letter •informal email message•informal greetings card•informal postcard•

The extent of each text to be produced by candidates is approximately 30 words.

Speaking

The candidate will be able to:interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase •things at a slower rate of speechinitiate and respond to simple statements about personal details, in areas of immediate •need or on very familiar topicscommunicate in a very limited range of social situations using a basic range of functional •languageexchange information to perform a task•

A1

describe and explain familiar topics and simple routines•give single-step instructions and directions in familiar contexts•ask and answer simple questions•produce simple phrases to express likes, dislikes and preferences in relation to familiar •topicscontribute points to a discussion, provided the other speakers are co-operative.•pronounce with sufficient clarity a limited repertoire of words and phrases so they can be •understood by a sympathetic listener.display a limited control of very basic grammatical structures.•produce simple phrases and sentences to give basic information about and descriptions •of familiar people and places, feelings and opinions.cope appropriately, with support from the other person, in a limited range of familiar •social situations.manage the conventions of turn taking in very simple interactions•use a very limited range of connectors to link utterances.•

A1

Topics

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATIONname•address•date and place of birth•age•sex•marital status•nationality•origin•occupation•family•likes and dislikes•physical appearance•title•first language•

HOUSE AND HOME, ENVIRONMENTaccommodation, rooms•furniture, furnishing•services•amenities•region•flora and fauna•

DAILY LIFEat home•at work•

FREE TIME, ENTERTAINMENTleisure•hobbies and interests•TV, radio computer etc•cinema, theatre•intellectual pursuits•sports•press•internet•music•holidays•

TRAVELpublic transport•private transport•traffic•holiday accommodation•luggage•travel documents•signs and notices•

LANGUAGEforeign language ability•understanding, expression•spelling and alphabet•

RELATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLErelationships•correspondence•behaviour•friends•

HEALTH AND BODYCAREparts of the body•personal comfort•hygiene•ailments, accidents•medical services•

SHOPPINGshopping facilities•foodstuffs•clothes, fashion•household articles•prices•

FOOD AND DRINKtypes of food and drink•eating and drinking out•

SERVICESpost•telephone•banking•police•hospital, surgery•garage•petrol station•emergency•

PLACESasking the way and giving •directionslocation•

WEATHERobtain information from •weather forecastclimate and weather•

MEASURES AND SHAPESdigits and cardinal numbers up •to 31telephone numbers, process•height, length, weight, •capacity, temperaturedates, times, days•shape•

EDUCATIONschooling•subjects•

A1

Functions

PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTasking for and giving personal information•describing where one lives (accommodation, area, etc)•asking and answering questions for confirmation, information, identification•describing familiar people, places and things•correcting information•explaining daily routines.•

ExPRESSING THOUGHTS AND FEELINGSexpressing agreement or disagreement•stating knowledge or ignorance of something or someone•stating and asking about ability or inability to do something•seeking, granting or denying permission•expressing wishes•expressing a preference•expressing likes and dislikes•offering and accepting an apology.•

MAKING THINGS HAPPENresponding to a request•requesting something or requesting someone to do something•inviting someone to do something•accepting or declining an offer or invitation•giving single-step instructions•counting and using numbers.•

SOCIAL CONTACTgetting someone’s attention•greeting people and responding to greetings•expressing thanks•addressing somebody•introducing oneself, family and close friends•opening, closing a conversation•indicating lack of understanding•asking someone to clarify something•asking for and giving the spelling and meaning of words•asking for and telling people the time, day, date•taking leave.•

A1

Gra

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that

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and

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A1

Verb

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form

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pose

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A1

Mod

als,

nou

ns, pro

noun

s, p

osse

ssiv

es,

pre

pos

itio

ns

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Acce

ssas

Pre

limin

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and

in a

dditi

onAc

hiev

eras

Acc

ess

and

in a

dditi

on

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als

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ent r

efer

ence

:ca

n, c

an’t

• (a

bilit

y/in

abilit

y, p

erm

issi

on)

and

wou

ld li

ke (r

eque

st)

Mod

als

and

form

s w

ith s

imila

r m

eani

ng:

mus

t•

(obl

igat

ion)

mus

tn’t

• (p

rohi

bitio

n)ha

ve t

o, h

ad g

ot t

o•

(nee

d)ca

n, c

ould

• (r

eque

sts)

coul

dn’t

• (i

mpo

ssib

ility)

may

• (p

erm

issi

on)

sing

le m

odal

adv

erbs

: •

poss

ibly

, pr

obab

ly,

perh

aps

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als

and

form

s w

ith s

imila

r m

eani

ng:

shou

ld•

(obl

igat

ion,

adv

ice)

mig

ht, m

ay, w

ill, pr

obab

ly•

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sibi

lity

and

prob

abilit

y in

the

futu

re)

wou

ld/s

houl

d •

(adv

ice)

need

to

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blig

atio

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of o

blig

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erta

inly

in th

e fu

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ay I

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skin

g fo

r pe

rmis

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rat

her

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ouns

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form

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rdin

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-31

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poss

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Acc

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•

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ses

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the

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day,

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six

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d •

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ter

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in h

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A1

Art

icle

s, d

eter

min

ers,

adje

ctiv

es, ad

verb

s, i

nten

sifi

ers

Prel

imin

ary

Acce

ssas

Pre

limin

ary

and

in a

dditi

onAc

hiev

eras

Acc

ess

and

in a

dditi

on

Artic

les

Defin

ite, i

ndefi

nite

•de

finite

art

icle

•ze

ro a

rtic

le w

ith u

ncou

ntab

le n

ouns

•de

finite

art

icle

with

sup

erla

tives

•

defin

ite a

rtic

le w

ith p

ost-m

odifi

catio

n,

•su

ch a

s th

e pr

esen

t yo

u ga

ve m

eus

e of

inde

finite

art

icle

in d

efini

tions

, •

such

as

an a

rchi

tect

is a

per

son

who

de

sign

s bu

ildin

gs

Det

erm

iner

san

y, s

ome,

a lo

t of

•al

l, no

ne,

not

(any

), e

noug

h, (

a) f

ew,

•(a

)lit

tle,

man

y, m

ore,

mos

t, m

uch,

no

a ra

nge

of d

eter

min

ers,

eg

•al

l the

, m

ost,

bot

h

Adje

ctiv

esco

mm

on a

djec

tives

in fr

ont o

f a n

oun

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mon

stra

tive

adje

ctiv

es

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is,

that

, th

ese,

tho

seor

dina

l num

bers

1-3

1•

orde

r of

adj

ectiv

es•

com

para

tive,

sup

erla

tive,

reg

ular

and

•co

mm

on ir

regu

lar

form

s•

use

of

•th

anor

dina

l num

bers

up

to 1

00 +

mul

tiple

s •

of 1

00

adje

ctiv

es e

ndin

g •

–ed

+ -

ing

such

as

tire

d an

d ti

ring

com

para

tive

stru

ctur

es, s

uch

as

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……

as, i

s th

e sa

me

as,

not

so…

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…, lo

oks

like/

is li

keal

l ord

inal

num

bers

•

Adve

rbs

sim

ple

adve

rbs

of p

lace

, man

ner

and

•tim

e, s

uch

as

•he

re,

slow

ly,

now

sim

ple

adve

rbs

and

adve

rbia

l phr

ases

: •

sequ

enci

ng, t

ime

and

plac

e, fr

eque

ncy,

m

anne

rpo

sitio

n of

adv

erbs

and

wor

d or

der

of

•ad

verb

ial p

hras

es

mor

e co

mpl

ex a

dver

bial

phr

ases

of

•tim

e, p

lace

, fre

quen

cy, m

anne

r, s

uch

as

as s

oon

as p

ossi

ble

Intensifiers

very

, re

ally

•qu

ite,

so,

a b

it•

a ra

nge

of in

tens

ifier

s su

ch a

s •

too,

en

ough

A1

Pun

ctua

tion

and

spel

ling

Prel

imin

ary

Acce

ssas

Pre

limin

ary

and

in a

dditi

onAc

hiev

eras

Acc

ess

and

in a

dditi

on

Punc

tuat

ion

use

of c

apita

l let

ters

and

full

stop

s•

use

of q

uest

ion

mar

ks, e

xcla

mat

ion

•m

arks

, use

of c

omm

a in

list

sus

e of

pun

ctua

tion

in fo

rmal

and

•

info

rmal

text

s, s

uch

as d

ashe

s,

brac

kets

, bul

let p

oint

s, s

peec

h m

arks

Spel

ling

the

corr

ect s

pellin

g of

per

sona

l •

keyw

ords

and

fam

iliar

wor

dsth

e co

rrec

t spe

lling

of m

ost p

erso

nal

•de

tails

and

fam

iliar

com

mon

wor

dsth

e co

rrec

t spe

lling

of c

omm

on w

ords

•

and

key

wor

ds r

elat

ing

to o

wn

wor

k,

leis

ure

and

stud

y in

tere

sts

Dis

cour

sePr

elim

inar

yAc

cess

as P

relim

inar

y an

d in

add

ition

Achi

ever

as A

cces

s an

d in

add

ition

Dis

cour

sese

nten

ce c

onne

ctiv

es:

•th

en,

next

adve

rbs

to in

dica

te s

eque

nce

•(first,

finally)

use

of s

ubst

itutio

n (

•I t

hink

so,

I ho

pe s

o)m

arke

rs to

str

uctu

re s

poke

n di

scou

rse

•(R

ight

, w

ell,

OK

)

mar

kers

to in

dica

te a

dditi

on (

•al

so),

sequ

ence

(inthefirstplace

), co

ntra

st

(on

the

othe

r ha

nd)

mar

kers

to s

truc

ture

spo

ken

disc

ours

e,

•(a

nyw

ay, by

the

way

)us

e of

ellip

sis

in in

form

al s

ituat

ions

(•

got

to g

o)us

e of

vag

ue la

ngua

ge (

•I t

hink

, yo

u kn

ow)

A1