International ESOLB2 COMMUNICATOR LEVEL SYLLABUSSkills, Topics, Functions, and Grammar

B2 - Communicator level requirementsSkills, Topics, Functions and Grammar

B2

B2 - Communicator level requirementsSkills, Topics, Functions and Grammar

Skills

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 relationshipsfollow 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 featuresrecognise how intonation, pitch and/or stress can affect meaning•recognise feelings, moods, attitudes, important points and opinions expressed through •stress, pitch and intonation.

Rangeunderstand ideas, arguments and descriptions expressed through complex sentence•forms•understand some lower frequency vocabulary and expressions relating to everyday life and •current events.

Registerrecognise degrees of formality used by speakers in different types of utterances in •everyday and less familiar situations.

Understanding gistunderstand the main ideas in longer but clearly structured announcements, conversations •and discussions on familiar and unfamiliar concrete and abstract topics.

Understanding detailextract the more salient points of detail from longer but clearly structured texts on familiar •and unfamiliar topics and on both concrete and abstract topics.

B2

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 viewpointslocate and understand information, ideas and opinions from longer more specialised •sources in familiar contexts.

Rangeunderstand a broad range of vocabulary but may experience some difficulty with low •frequency idiomsunderstand texts which contain a broad range of grammatical structures.•

Registerunderstand the features of register in texts conveying emotion•understand features which signal different levels of formality.•

Text structurerecognise how purpose is achieved in a range of texts including those containing images, •graphical and tabular dataunderstand 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 •viewswrite 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 attempteduse 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.•

B2

The text types candidates at this level will be required to produce are as follows:letter •email message•article•report•description•narrative•simple argument•

Candidates must demonstrate awareness of and ability to use both formal and informal/neutral registers. The extent of each text to be produced by candidates is up to 200 words.

Speaking

The candidate will be able to:speak with a degree of fluency and spontaneity making sustained interaction possible •without undue straincommunicate personal information, opinions, feelings and ideas•communicate in a variety of social situations using a range of functional language•exchange information to perform a task•narrate, describe, explain and express opinions in extended speech•give straightforward descriptions, narratives, directions, instructions on topics •encountered in personal, social, academic or vocational lifecontribute points to an argument on a familiar topic integrating sub-themes and coming to •a conclusionpronounce clearly the sounds of English in connected speech•produce stretches of language with few noticeable long pauses, but with some hesitation •when searching for patterns and expressions.display a relatively high degree of grammatical control without impeding errors.•use sufficient range of language to give detailed descriptions and arguments and be able •to highlight personal events and emotionsproduce complex sentences although there is still some searching for vocabulary and •expressionsadopt a degree of formality appropriate to the circumstances•cope linguistically with more stressful kinds of interaction such as complaints or disputes.•manage the conventions of turn taking using appropriate phrases for making and dealing •with interruptions and requesting informationlink utterances using some cohesive devices although there may be some ‘jerkiness’ in •extended speech.

B2

Topics

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATIONpersonal details•occupation•family•likes and dislikes•physical appearance•first language•character•

HOUSE AND HOME, ENVIRONMENTtypes of accommodation•interior design•local & regional services/amenities•regional geographical features•local flora and fauna•

DAILY LIFEat home•at work•income•prospects•

FREE TIME, ENTERTAINMENTleisure, hobbies & interests•TV, radio, cinema, theatre•computer, internet•intellectual/artistic pursuits•sports•press•music•photography•the written word (reading, •letterwriting,diaries etc)•exhibitions, museums•

TRAVELpublic & private transport•traffic & traffic control•‘green’ travel•holidays•accommodation•entering and leaving a country•

RELATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLEfamily relationships•friendship•manners•social conventions•

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

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

FOOD AND DRINKeating habits•sourcing food locally•fast food•organic food•year-round availability•diets•

SERVICEScommunications•financial services•emergency services•leisure facilities•care for the elderly•IT in the community•

PLACES & LOCATIONsatellite navigation systems•World Heritage sites•locations for motorways & airports•protecting open spaces•

LANGUAGEforeign language ability•accents & dialects•preserving minority languages•bilingualism•

B2

WEATHERclimate and weather•weather forecasting•climate change•extreme weather•

MEASURES AND SHAPESstatistics•processes•

EDUCATIONschooling•subjects•qualifications and examinations•

THE ENVIRONMENTrecycling•pollution•global warming•

BELIEFSthe paranormal & supernatural•superstitions•unexplained phenomena e.g. UFOs,•coincidences etc.•

ARTSmodern art, theatre•classical art, theatre•

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGYscientific development•space exploration•power of the computer•important inventions•

SOCIETYindividual rights•family life•parental responsibilities•social responsibilities•equal opportunities•

B2

Functions

PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTaskin• g for and giving personal informationdescribing where one lives •(accommodation, area etc)asking and answering questions •for confirmation, information, identificationdescribing people, places, things•correcting information•explaining routines•narrating and describing past, •present and future eventscomparing things, people•reporting facts, actions•stating facts, actions•giving descriptions and •specifications.

ExPRESSING THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND ATTITUDES

expressi• ng and asking about agreement or disagreementdenying something•expressing agreement reluctantly •or with reservationsconceding a point or argument, •demurringexpressing views and feelings with •reasonsasserting and asking about •knowledge or ignorance of something or someonestating whether a person, thing or •action is remembered or forgottenenquiring of someone else whether •a person, thing or action is remembered or forgottenstating and asking about degrees •of probability/possibilityexpressing, denying or asking •about necessity (including logical deduction)stating and asking about one’s •certainty or uncertainty of somethingreminding someone to do •something

expressing doubt, incredulity, •bewildermenthypothesising•stating and asking about one’s •ability or inability to do somethingstating and enquiring about •one’s obligation (or lack of) to do somethingseeking, granting or denying •permissionstating and asking about the •permissibility of doing somethingexpressing and asking about •wishes, hopes, expectationsexpressing and asking about •wants, desires, needsstating and asking about intention•stating, responding to and asking •about preferenceexpressing and asking about likes •and dislikes, with reasonsexpressing and asking about (dis)•pleasure, (un)happinessexpressing and asking about •satisfaction or dissatisfactionexpressing disappointment•expressing gratitude•expressing and asking about •interest or lack of itexpressing surprise or lack of it•expressing and asking about fear, •worry, anxietygiving reassurance•expressing regret, sympathy, •condolenceexpressing fellow-feeling, empathy•expressing and asking about pain, •anguish, sufferingexpressing relief•expressing indifference•expressing fatigue, resignation•offering and accepting an apology•granting forgiveness•expressing and asking about •approval, appreciation or disapprovalexpressing moral obligation•expressing regret•accepting, attaching or denying •blame for something.

B2

MAKING THINGS HAPPENresponding to a request•requesting something, or •requesting someone to do somethinginviting someone to do something•accepting or declining an offer or •invitationgiving instructions or orders•giving and asking for advice•responding to or rejecting advice, •with reasonswarning others to be careful or to •stop doing somethingoffering and requesting assistance•insisting politely•persuading someone to do •somethingsuggesting a course of action•asking for, responding to, agreeing •to or rejecting suggestions with reason/alternativemaking and agreeing plans and •arrangementsencouraging someone to do •somethingreaching a compromise•prohibiting someone from doing •somethingmaking a complaint•refusing to do something, •expressing defiancepleading with someone to do •something.

SOCIAL CONTACTgetting someone’s attention•greeting people and responding to •greetingsexpressing thanks•addressing somebody•making and responding to formal •and informal introductionsopening, closing a formal or •informal conversationcongratulating someone•praising someone•paying someone a compliment•asking someone’s opinion•

making someone feel welcome•indicating lack of understanding•giving and asking for clarification, •explanation or definition of somethingconfirming one’s own or another’s •understandingasking someone to repeat all or •part of somethingasking someone to speak more •slowlyasking for help in finding words or •phrasesasking for and giving the spelling •and meaning of wordscounting and using numbers•asking for and telling people the •time, day, dateinterrupting politely•objecting, protesting•exemplifying or emphasising a •pointclassifying, generalising, defining •somethingencouraging another speaker to •continueindicating a wish to continue or •finish speakingsumming up•taking leave•observing telephone conventions•observing letter-writing conventions•

B2

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