switch syllabus elementary - switch language … syllabus upper interm… · present simple present...

SWITCH School of English Av. Pte Roque S Peña 615 7th floor off 716 (C1035AAB) Buenos Aires Argentina Tel/Fax: (5411) 4393-4125 [email protected] www.switchschool.com.ar

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SWITCH Syllabus UPPER INTERMEDIATE Business English

Programa de Estudio equivalente a: The Common European Framework & ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe)

ALTE Can Do Statements: LEVEL C1

Listening/Speaking Reading Writing

CAN contr ibute ef fec t ive ly

to meet ing s and seminars with in own area of work or

keep up a casual conversat ion with a good

degree of f luency, cop ing with ab st rac t expressions .

CAN read qui ck ly enough to

cope w ith an academic cou rse, to read the med ia

for info rmation or to unders tand non-standard

cor respondence.

CAN prepare /draf t

professional cor respondence, take

reasonab ly a ccu rate note s in meet ing s o r wr i te an e ssay

whi ch shows an ab i l i ty to communicate.

Module A:

GRAMMAR ENGLISH IN USE

Present Time

Present simple Present continuous Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous Past simple Past continuous

Past perfect Used to, would

Describing facts and general truths The factory produces circuit boards.

Talking about current and temporary situations Peter is based at the London office but he’s helping us out here for a few months.

Expressing annoying habits He is always missing deadlines.

Describing recent and indefinite events I’ve been to France three times.

Talking aboutnot completed or recently finished actions We’ve been exporting to the USA for years.

Describing finished events in the past He signed the invoice and posted it.

Talking about continuous actions interrupted by a sudden event They were preparing the accounts when the computer crashed.

Talking about events at different points in the past After we had eaten, we continued the negotiations.

Expressing habits We rarely have complaints from customers. I used to smoke heavily when I was at university. We would lend him money when he was unemployed.


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Will Going to

Future continuous Future perfect Present continuous

Present simple Clauses of purpose: so that, infinitive of purpose, in order to, so as to, for Typical uncountable nouns, uncountable nouns that describe a category, change of meaning, plural nouns, group nouns

Making predictions More and more countries will tie their currencies to the US dollar.

Expressing instant decisions Don’t worry, I’ll help you with the report.

Describing present intention or plan We’re going to expand overseas operation next year.

Describing a situation in progress at a particular time in the future This time next year we’ll be exporting to the US.

Looking back from a point in the future We’ll have had our millionth passenger by June.

Describing definite fixed arrangements I’m leaving in the morning.

Describing future events based on a timetable My train leaves at 11.30 tomorrow morning.

Expressing purpose Scientists used only local materials, in order to save money.


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Module B:


Passive voice Future, Perfect, Continuous tenses Using and not mentioning the agent have/get something done, needs doing

Relative Clauses

Conditionals Zero conditional First conditional with if, unless, provided, as long as, the imperative, should Second conditional with if, were Third conditional

Wishes and related forms Clauses of result So/such a, so many/much/few/little, too/not enough +to

Gerunds and infinitives verbs followed by –ing or to infinitive change of meaning, verbs followed by the infinitive or a that clause, verbs followed by –ing or infinitive without to

Focusing on important information Mr. Jones will be elected salesperson of the year. It is said that the client failed to honour the terms of the contract. We had the photographs in the brochure taken by a professional. The office needs decorating.

Identifying people, and things The idea which you proposed is really good.

Providing extra information The invoice, which I hadn’t checked, was in the envelope..

Describing basic truths If you use that door, it set offs an alarm.

Describing real/likely situations If you can’t meet the deadline, we’ll have to find another supplier.

Describing unreal/imaginary situations If the post were more reliable, we wouldn’t have to depend on couriers.

Describing unreal/imaginary past situations If I’d known the truth about the company, I wouldn’t have taken the job.

Expressing wishes about the present, past and future I wish I knew the answer to this question. If only / I wish I’d known the truth about the firm

Expressing result There were so many passengers that we couldn’t find a seat.


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Module C:


Articles Indefinite, definite and zero article All, no, none, each, every, either , neither

Modal Verbs: present and past Can

Could

Must

Have to

May

Might

Should and ought to

Indirect speech With and without tense changes, questions, commands and requests, reporting verbs, paraphrase Reported Speech Statements , questions, imperatives Clauses of contrast Although, though, eventhough,while, whereas, however, nevertheless, despite, in spite of

Referring to something for the first time There was a letter in her post box.

Referring to something mentioned before It was the letter with the details of her appointment.

Talking general I enjoy dealing with customers.

Expressing general and past ability I’d like to be able to chair a meeting. When I was younger, I couldn’t work under pressure.

Expressing certainty and uncertainty He must be Bill’s son, they look so alike. There could bear recession next year. The situation may improve in the longer term. The new model’s success might not be enough to save the company.

Expressing obligation When visitors come I have to check their ID and issue them with a bag. I must send my tax form, otherwise I’ll get a fine.

Expressing prohibition You mustn’t smoke anywhere in the building.

Expressing absence of obligation You don’t have to take notes, I’ll give you a handout at the end of the talk.

Giving advice At an interview you should wear clothes you feel comfortable in.

Expressing criticism You ought to have checked their bank references before supplying the goods.

Reporting Charles asked me if I liked team work. She suggested having a break to lunch.

Expressing contrast Although I asked her, she didn’t come. Despite losing, we celebrated.


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At the end of the level the learner:

Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit

meaning.

Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious

searching for expressions.

Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional

purposes.

Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing

controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices.

switch syllabus elementary - switch language … syllabus upper interm… · present simple present...

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