Syllabus
Objectives: To
assess candidates' English language awareness,
language analysis skills and language proficiency
in part fulfilment of the qualifications required
to receivea permit to teach English as foreign
language in Malta.
The Examination is divided
into Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 1 includes Section
A - D
Section A: language description
(meta-language awareness)
This section assesses candidates’
ability to analyse language and to use appropriate
terminology to describe language. In particular,
the candidate is tested on his/her knowledge
of terminology required to be able to describe
linguistic structures and processes covering
sound patterns (phonology), word formation (morphology),
phrase/sentence structure (syntax), meaning
(semantics), and language use/function (pragmatics),
as well as language variety.
The following are examples of
relevant terms:
Phonemic script (IPA), stress,
syllabification, intonation, Schwa, part of
speech, gender, tense, aspect, phrasal verb,
auxiliary, in/transitive verb, grammatical relation,
voice, reported speech, conditional, comparative,
synonym, antonym, communicative function, register,
in/formal, style, dialect, colloquialism, slang.
The candidate should be able to
use such terms correctly, and use them appropriately
to describe language.
Section B: language sensitivity
and awareness
This section assesses candidates’
awareness of and sensitivity towards language
patterns, language relationships and collocation,
word formation, false friends, idiomatic language,
phrasal verbs, and metaphor. It also tests the
candidates’ ability to identify and correct
grammatical and lexical errors.
Section C: language in
context/discourse (communication)
This section assesses the candidates’
sensitivity to differences in register and style,
and to appropriacy of responses in specific
discourse situations. It also tests candidates’
awareness of colloquialisms, slang, dialectal
variations, and jargon.
Section D: Writing
This section tests the candidates’
ability to express themselves fluently and accurately
in writing on a topic. Topics … general
and current interest.
Part 2 includes only Section
E. Part 2 is only undertaken if the the candidate
obtains the required grade in part 1.
Section E: Speaking
This part tests the candidates’
ability to express themselves fluently and accurately
in speaking. It is only to be undertaken if
the candidate is successful in the previous
sections.
Part 1: Interview 3-4 minutes
The examiner introduces him/herself
and asks for the candidate’s name and
identification. The examiner then asks some
questions focusing on areas such as the candidate’s
interests, studies, family or working life.
Candidates are expected to offer interesting
responses and to show that they can develop
their answers. They are not expected to provide
a point of view or develop their case.
Part 2: Long Turn 3-4 minutes
The candidate is asked to choose
one topic from a set and is given a minute to
prepare and up to two minutes to speak about
the topic.
The examiner remains silent while
the candidate is speaking, but may stop the
candidate when the time is up by asking a related
follow-up question.
This part offers candidates an
opportunity to show their ability to keep going
without unnatural hesitation and to demonstrate
their speaking skills including pronunciation.
Part 3: Discussion 4-5 minutes
The candidate is presented with
some more questions broadly linked to the topic
introduced in Part 2 and/or to the topic dealt
with in Section D Writing. The candidate takes
part in a discussion with the examiner and is
expected to interact with the examiner by asking
questions and arguing.
Part 3 provides candidates with
opportunities to display their range of vocabulary
and their ability to express their opinions
and to justify their ideas. Their language will
need to be both accurate and appropriate to
the situation. Candidates are not marked for
their opinions, and all views will be welcomed.
Weighting
Part I - Written Session and
Part II - Oral Session are equally weighted.
Results of both these Sessions will be published
in grades as follows:-
Grade A:- Execellent quality.
Grade B:- Very good quality.
Grade C:- Good quality.
Grade D:- Fair performance.
Grade E:- Low performance.
Grade F:- Unsatisfactory performance.
Candidates will be considered
to have reached the required standard if they
manage to obtain Grades A, B or C in Part I
- Written Session.
These candidates will proceed to complete Part
II - Oral Session of the English Language
Examination.
Grade D and E represent a performance
which does not satisfy the required standard
although it is not completely unsatisfactory.
Grade
F indicates unsatifactory work which does not
merit at least half the total marks."
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