English Dexway Certificate PLUS - Level B1 - Course 2 provides students with the necessary tools to communicate and handle the main structures of the language with some confidence and demonstrate knowledge of a wide range of vocabulary and use of the appropriate communicative strategies in a variety of social situations. This course contains speaking and writing assignments.
Once the course has finished students can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization. They can also interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Students can produce clear, detailed texts on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue.
Throughout the course students learn to talk about habitual actions and actions in progress, to express tastes, likes and dislikes and converse about jobs and free time. They study how to narrate, express habitual actions in the past, describe houses, talk about the recent past and about tourism and traveling. Students learn to express movement and intentions, arrange an appointment, make plans and predictions, talk about films and TV programs, give and receive permission, express obligation, lack of obligation, prohibition, possibility give advice and talk about domestic chores.
Vocabulary studied through the course includes: topics such work and leisure, games and sports, relatives, house description, trips and tourism, experiences, pastimes, excursions and trips, films and television programs, competitions and contests, medicine and hospitals, feelings, climate, jobs and employment, work conditions, stress-free life, among others.
Students practice all the language abilities: writing, speaking, listening and reading through a series of interactive and contextualized exercises. They learn through tasks such as real-life dialogues, word/sentence – picture association and video dubbing exercises. The last lesson of each unit has some test exercises so that students are aware of their progress.
Unit 1
1. Doing market research
Aims: To introduce and acquire the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Free time - Games - Everyday expressions: to have a rest, to get ready.
2. At the sports center
Aims: To learn and practice the grammar as well as some more structures and vocabulary through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Do, go and play - Talking about frequency: adverbs and expressions - Present simple vs Present continuous - To be keen on + noun. Vocabulary: - Free time - Games - Everyday expressions: to catch up on, to give someone a ring, to get together. Activities: - Student-led practice: click on the images - Fill in the blanks - Associating images with words and expressions: listen and repeat - Write sentences - Reading comprehension: true or false - Listening: listen and fill in the blanks.
3. The bus route
Aims: To review and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Do, go and play - Talking about frequency: adverbs and expressions - Present simple vs Present continuous. Vocabulary: - Free time - Games. Activities: - Pronunciation: third person present simple, listen and repeat then choose the corresponding sound - Reading comprehension: completing a form - Fill in the blanks - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
4. Work and leisure - Masterclass
Students attend a class where the teacher, who speaks only English, asks questions that the students must answer. The student interacts with the teacher through a series of guided dialogues. The main focus of these dialogues is to learn to talk about work and leisure activities. After attending the class, students have to complete a series of comprehension exercises and the dexway system immediately evaluates their answers. E.g.: pronunciation and writing.
5. The music gym - Reading comprehension
In this lesson students read a written passage of text describing a new gym. The text is followed by questions in a sequential order that elicit students’ skills on active reading. Readers are asked to peruse the passage for the general meaning, particular details and logical inferences.
6. I usually do - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Learners record a short audio talking about a sport or fitness activity they do or want to do.
7. Similar words - Writing assignment
A short writing assignment to test the learner's ability to distinguish between commonly confused words.
8. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 2
9. Remembering old times
Aims: To learn and acquire the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Talking about family - Describing living spaces.
10. Future parents-in-law
Aims: To learn and practice the grammar as well as some more structures and vocabulary through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Past simple and Past continuous: interrupted actions in the past - While / when - Used to: past habits and tendencies - Comparative forms - There was/were: all forms. Vocabulary: - Talking about family: in-laws - Common expressions: to look forward to something, for ages, why on earth? - Description of a house - Activities: - Student-led practice: click on the vocabulary or image - Association of sentences and words with corresponding pictures: listen ansd repeat - Fill in the blanks - Multiple choice - Listening: listen and fill in the blanks - Listening: listen and choose the correct option.
11. Country house for sale
Aims: To review and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Past simple and Past continuous: interrupted actions in the past - While / when - Used to, use to, usually: past and present habits and tendencies. Vocabulary: - Talking about family - Common expressions: to look forward to something, for ages, why on earth? - Talking about living spaces. Activities: - Reading: read and choose the best option - Pronunciation: past simple regular verbs /s/, /z/, /id/, listen and repeat and select the corresponding sound - Association of sentences and words with corresponding pictures: listen and repeat - Fill in the blanks - Multiple choice - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
12. Sports - Masterclass
Students attend a class where the teacher, who speaks only English, asks questions that the students must answer. The student interacts with the teacher through a series of guided dialogues. These dialogues relate to specific terminology used to talk about sports, specifically about popular sports, teams, tools to practice different sports and expenses. After attending the class, students have to complete a series of comprehension exercises and the dexway system immediately evaluates their answers. E.g.: pronunciation and writing.
13. Time to exercise - Additional vocabulary
This lesson provides students with additional materials to expand their knowledge of vocabulary on the subject of health, specifically sports and exercising. Vocabulary is presented in context and there are follow-up exercises that provide extended practice.
14. The fitness instructor - Listening comprehension
In this lesson students practice and test their listening skills, so they must pay attention to the oral information that is heard in two different conversations and answer to a set of related questions.
15. Sports - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Students record a short audio answering questions about sports (activation and personalization of sports lexis and gerund/infinitive structures learned in this unit)
16. Mediation: Local sports - Writing assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write an email to an English-speaking friend who is interested in sport
17. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 3
18. Making plans for vacation
Aims: To learn and acquire the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Vacations - Tourism - Experiences.
19. A ticket to Chicago
Aims: To learn and practice the grammar as well as some more structures and vocabulary through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Talking about vacations plans - Present perfect: already, yet, still, just - Past simple: ago. Vocabulary: - Vacations - Common expressions: Lucky you! You're telling me!, What I mean to say is?, to have a look at something, by any chance - British and American English - Travel: buying a ticket. Activities: - Student-led practice: click on the images - Fill in the blanks: multple choice - Fill in the blanks - Correction of wrong sentences - Association of sentences and words with corresponding pictures: listen and reepeat - Reading comprehension: brochures, answer the questions - Listening: listen and fill in the blanks.
20. The list of things to do
Aims: To review and consolidate the grammar as well as the structures and vocabulary covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Talking about vacation plans - Present perfect: already, yet, still, just - Past simple: ago - Present perfect vs Past simple. Vocabulary - Vacations - Talking about past experiences. Activities: - Pronunciation: stressed syllables, listen and repeat and select the stressed syllable - Reading and writing: fill the blanks with the correct tense - Fill in the blanks - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
21. The cruise - Reading comprehension
In this lesson students read a written passage of an informal email describing an experience at a cruise. The text is followed by questions in a sequential order that elicit students’ skills on active reading. Readers are asked to peruse the passage for the general meaning, particular details and logical inferences.
22. What has happened? - Speaking assignment
A short speaking assignment to test the learner's ability to describe images and use the present perfect to talk about what has just happened.
23. A past vacation - Writing assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write a short paragraph for submission on the forum
Activation and personalization of past simple and vacation lexis learned in this unit
24. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 4
25. Two weeks in Austria
Aims: To acquire and learn the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Vacations - Pastimes - Common expressions: hand made, I'd rather.
26. It's a beautiful day
Aims: To learn and practice the grammar as well as some more structures and vocabulary through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Talking about vacations plans - Will / Shall - Will vs Going to - Prepositions. Vocabulary: - Vacations - Pastimes - Common expressions: I'm afraid so / not, on hand, help yourself, to fill in a form, a night on the town - Days of the week - Excursions - Films - Competitions. Activities: - Student-led practice: click on the images - Fill in the blanks - Association of sentences and words with corresponding pictures: listen and repeat - Reading and listening: true or false - Listening comprehension: multiple choice - Fill in the blanks: multiple choice.
27. Plans for the new year
Aims: To expand, revise and consolidate the structures and vocabulary as well as the grammar covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Talking about vacations plans - Will / Shall - Will, Going to, Present continuous - Prepositions - Pronunciation: detecting tone. Vocabulary: - Vacations - Pastimes - Common expressions: I'm afraid so / not, on hand, help yourself, to fill in a form, a night on the town - Days of the week - Excursions - Films - Competitons. Activities: - Pronunciation: intonation, listen and repeat then decide the friendly or unfriendly intonation - Fill in the blanks: multiple choice - Fill in the blanks with the correct tense - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
28. This time yesterday - Masterclass
Students attend a class where the teacher, who speaks only English, asks questions that the students must answer. The student interacts with the teacher through a series of guided dialogues. These dialogues relate to the following topics: experiences in the past. After attending the class, students have to complete a series of comprehension questions and the dexway system immediately evaluates their answers. E.g.: pronunciation and writing.
29. Planning the competition - Listening comprehension
In this lesson students practice and test their listening skills, so they must pay attention to the oral information that is heard in two different telephone conversations and answer to a set of related questions.
30. Predictions - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Learners submit a short audio recording talking about their predictions for the future.
31. House exchange - Writing assignment
In this activity the student must write a text of about 125 words and email format addressed to a family following the instructions given. He/she will tell about a home exchange experience in the past with that family, referring to good and bad points and suggesting a new exchange. In this writing task the student can practice and improve grammar and spelling skills, review punctuation and vocabulary, and also learn about useful writing structures for emails and the appropriate registers for Internet communication purposes.
32. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 5
33. Housework
Aims: To learn and acquire the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Common expressions: do the shopping, lay the table, water the plants, feed the animals, sort out papers - Expressions with make: make a fuss, make a mess, make an effort.
34. Before traveling
Aims: To learn and practice the grammar as well as some more structures and vocabulary through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Changing money: being polite - Must, have to and can't: obligations, duties, prohibition - Needn't: lack of obligation - Asking for and giving permission: can and may - Giving advice / recommendations: do / don't, ought to, should, need. Vocabulary: - Common expressions: do the shopping, lay the table, water the plants, feed the animals, sort out papers - Collocations with make and do: make a mistake, do the shopping, do homework etc - Common expressions: to make up for, to get someone in, it's no use, take turns, on the other hand. Activities: - Student-led practice activity: click on the images - Fill in the blanks - Association of sentences and words with corresponding pictures: listen and repeat - Reading: read and fill in the blanks - Listening: listen and fill in the blanks - Listening comprehension: multiple choice.
35. May I go out now?
Aims: To review and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Must, have to and can't: obligations, duties, prohibition - Needn't: lack of obligation - Asking for and giving permission: can and may - Giving advice / recommendations: do / don't, ought to, should, need. Vocabulary: - Common expressions: do the shopping, lay the table, water the plants, feed the animals, sort out papers - Collocations with make and do: make a mistake, do the shopping, do homework etc - Common expressions: to make up for, to get someone in, it's no use. Activities: - Pronunciation: modal verb "can", listen and repeat and select an option - Fill in the blanks: choose an option - Fill in the blanks - Error detection and correction - Complete the sentences: sentence halves - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
36. Modern life and society - Masterclass
Students attend a class where the teacher, who speaks only English, asks questions that the students must answer. The student interacts with the teacher through a series of guided dialogues. These dialogues relate to the following topics: cultural differences, cultural appreciation and imaginary situations. After attending the class, students have to complete a series of comprehension questions and the dexway system immediately evaluates their answers. E.g.: pronunciation and writing.
37. Email to an au pair - Reading comprehension
In this lesson students read a written passage of an email from a family to an au pair. The text is followed by questions in a sequential order that elicit students’ skills on active reading. Readers are asked to peruse the passage for the general meaning, particular details and logical inferences.
38. Mediation: Housework Chores - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Learners record a short audio describing some housework chores that they do at home.
39. Mediation: Before traveling - Writing assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write some advice for someone who is going on a trip.
40. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 6
41. Who's on?
Aims: To expand, revise and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the Block through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - General, contextual review of all structures covered up until now. Vocabulary: - Housework - Common expressions: do the shopping, lay the table, water the plants, feed the animals, sort out papers - Collocations with make and do: make a mistake, do the shopping, do homework etc - Common expressions: to make up for, to get someone in, it's no use. Activities: - Real-life dialog - Listening comprehension: multiple choice - Pronunciation: listen and repeat - Real life dialog: dub the movie.
42. Village of the future
Aims: To expand, revise and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the Block through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - General, contextual review of all structures covered up until now. Vocabulary: - General review of the topics covered up until now. Activities: - Listening: listen and fill in the blanks - Reading comprehension: true or false - Listening comprehension: fill in the blanks.
43. Shall we spend the day in the countryside?
Aims: To expand, revise and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the Block through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - General, contextual review of all structures covered up until now. Vocabulary: - General review of the topics covered up until now. Activities: - Multiple choice - Fill in the blanks - Definitions: provide the correct word.
44. Housing - Additional vocabulary
This lesson provides students with additional materials to expand their knowledge of vocabulary to talk and describe the parts of the house, furniture and home appliances. Vocabulary is presented in context and there are follow-up exercises that provide extended practice.
45. Health and Sports - Reading
In this lesson students read and listen to a written passage of text that highlights the importance of doing regular exercise and the health benefits of three sports in particular: swimming, tennis and gymnastics. These questions follow a sequential order and elicit students' skills on active reading. Readers are asked to peruse the passage for the general meaning, particular details and logical inferences. The suggested activities comprise multiple-choice and true/false questions as well as matching statements with their corresponding sections. By practicing active and effective reading students acquire strong cognitive skills such as attention, auditory analysis, sound blending, sound segmenting, memory, processing speed and visualisation.
46. Health and Sports - Dictation
In this lesson students have to follow the dictation of a text that highlights the importance of doing regular exercise and the health benefits of three sports in particular: swimming, tennis and gymnastics. Students practice first and foremost their listening and writing skills and within the latter a range of sub-skills from spelling to punctuation. Moreover, this dictation makes students practise and enhance their vocabulary, syntax, grammar and, when reviewing his/her work, proofreading. The written passage of text has been divided into different phrases or sentences and it is listened to by the student, who has to write it. Students can listen to the phrase or sentence as many times as they wish and even ask for help if needed. Once a paragraph has been completed, students re-read it while listening to the audio and move on to the next paragraph.
47. Interview with an inventor - Listening comprehension
In this lesson students practice and test their listening skills, so they must pay attention to the oral information that is heard in two different situations (a conversation at a department store and an interview on TV) and answer to a set of related questions.
48. Life in the countryside - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write a paragraph describing a time when they were in the countryside.
49. Houses in the future - Writing assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write a short paragraph describing what houses will be like in the future.
50. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 7
51. Plans for a year out
Aims: To introduce and learn the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: - Talking about the weather - Everyday expressions: according to, to waste time, I expect, nowadays - Women's jobs.
52. A long way to equality
Aims: to introduce, present and practice the target grammar – modal verbs to express possibility, probability, deduction and supposition – through a series of interactive exercises which include selecting the right picture according to audio stimuli, choosing the right word or option in a set context or listening and repeating sentences. Vocabulary: differences between the verbs ‘think’, ‘expect’, ‘hope’ and ‘wait’ and vocabulary used in the context of equality of rights.
53. A radio panel game
Aims: to introduce, present and practice the target grammar – quantifiers – through a series of interactive exercises which include selecting the right picture according to audio stimuli, choosing the right word or option in a set context or listening and repeating sentences. Vocabulary: use of ‘too’ and ‘enough’ and terms used in the context of a radio panel game.
54. We have to send the invitations
Aims: To expand, review and consolidate the grammar, structures and vocabulary covered in the lessons through a series of interactive exercises. Structures and functions: - Talking about possibility and probability modal verbs: may, might, can, could, would - Modal verbs for deduction and supposition: can't, may/might, must - Quantifiers: plenty of, a few, a lot of, hardly any, enough - Will for predictions. Vocabulary: - Talking about the weather - Describing graphics - Everyday expressions: in practice, a long way to go, or else - Women's jobs. Activities: - Pronunciation: distinguishing sounds - Reading comprehension: true or false - Listening comprehension: fill in the blanks - Real life dialog: dub the movie - Choosing synonymous sentences.
55. Coming to conclusions - Masterclass
Students attend a class where the teacher, who speaks only English, asks questions that the students must answer. The student interacts with the teacher through a series of guided dialogues. These dialogues focus on the use of the modal verbs may, might, could, can and must in both the affirmative and negative forms, as well as the following quantifiers: most, nearly all of, plenty of, a great deal of, quite a lot of, etc. After attending the class, students have to complete a series of comprehension questions and the dexway system immediately evaluates their answers. E.g.: pronunciation and writing.
56. Weather conditions - Additional vocabulary
This lesson provides students with additional materials to expand their knowledge of vocabulary to talk and describe different weather conditions. Vocabulary is presented in context and there are follow-up exercises that provide extended practice.
57. The eco-friendly future - Reading comprehension
In this lesson students read a written passage of text about being eco-friendly. The text is followed by questions in a sequential order that elicit students’ skills on active reading. Readers are asked to peruse the passage for the general meaning, particular details and logical inferences.
58. It's too... - Speaking assignment
In this lesson:
Learners record a short audio describing the weather conditions in their city or town.
59. My future - Writing assignment
In this lesson:
Learners write a short paragraph about their future plans.
60. Test exercises
In the last lesson of this unit, students find a variety of exercises carefully chosen to consolidate and evaluate the language skills acquired in previous lessons.
Unit 8
61. Looking for a temporary job
Aims: To learn and assimilate the structures and vocabulary related to the topic through a series of interactive exercises such as word/sentence-picture association, listening comprehension with short, realistic dialogs and student-led listening practice with the vocabulary items. Vocabulary: Talking about work - personal qualities -qualifications. Everyday expressions: