60 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF CUU LONG TEXTBOOK FOR B1 ENGLISH INTENSIVE COURSE Compiled by Dr. Nguyen Hong Chi MA. Huynh Thi Thao Nguyen MA. Pham Thi Tuyet Ngan FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Since 2022 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.
129 2 INTRODUCTION TEXTBOOK FOR B1 ENGLISH INTENSIVE COURSE is designed to help prepare knowledge for those who will participate in the internal B1 English course. Textbook for B1 English intensive course provides learners with formats, vocabularies, languages, and structures commonly found on the VSTEP exam (Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency which is mainly used to assess the English language proficiency of Vietnamese learners). Textbook for B1 English intensive course also includes repeated practice through 5 sample test collections that mirror the content of the VSTEP test for B1 level. Textbook for B1 English intensive course is designed into 4 main parts.
Introduction: provides learners with the introduction and the use of the textbook. Language skills: includes 4 parts corresponding with listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. For each part of the skills, learners would go through and get familiar with the commonly used question types, useful languages, and tips for the B1 test. Accompanied by the tips, there would be several practice exercises afterward truly formatted which possibly grants learners chances of tightening their skills.
These practice exercises familiarize students with the kinds of tasks they will encounter on both full-length practice tests and actual tests. Practice tests: includes 4 full-length practice tests. Thes test gives learners a better feel for what will be expected of them in actual test situations. Each full- length practice test is orderly organized with 35 listening questions, 40 reading questions, 2 writing tasks, and 3 speaking sections.
References: grants learners a list of related sources of information about learning B1 English. It is recommended that learners getting through all parts of this textbook before taking the practice tests. After working through the book within all 4 learning skills, learners will be better prepared for a timed, full-length test simulation. To get the most benefit from the practice test, learners are advised to take the test under exam conditions which include following the time limits set for the actual test.
3 SECTION A LEARNING SKILLS 4 PAPER 1 LISTENING SKILLS 5 LISTENING I. INTRODUCTION The LISTENING PAPER contains 3 main parts with a total of 35 questions, within 40 minutes. 8 questions PART 1 8 short announcement/ instructions 12 questions 4 options/question PART 2 3 conversations Only 1 time listening 15 questions PART 3 3 talks/lectures 1. TOPICS OF CONVERSATIONS TOPICS KEYWORDS Store: shop, retailer, boutique, outlet, department store Shopping Clerk: salesperson, sales rep Shopper: buyer, consumer, customer The restaurant: cafe, coffee shop, cafeteria, deli, bistro Dining out Eat: have, consume, snack on, dine Meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, snack, a bite to eat Job: employment, position, work Work Employer: boss, supervisor, manager, CEO, department head Trip: journey, vacation, excursion, tour Travel: go, visit, see, tour Traveling Arrive: get to, land, disembark Leave: depart, take off, board Healthy: well, fit Sick: ill, unwell, not well Health Sickness: illness, disease Medicine: pills, drugs, prescription, medication Clothes: clothing, garment, attire, dress, outfit Clothes Wear: have on, be dressed in Concert: recital, musical performance Music Musician: performer, instrumentalist, accompanist 2.
TYPES OF TALKS TYPES SAMPLE PHRASES Announcements Flight 10 will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Welcome to the fifth annual Business about Professionals Speeches Conference. Tours Welcome to the City Museum of Art. 6 Advertisements We are pleased to announce a storewide sale.
Reports This is your morning weather update. Introductions Our speaker today is an expert in international economics. Voicemails Press “one” to hear our hours. Instructions/ lectures These tips will help you achieve your goals.
VOCABULARY CUES Shipment, inventory, stack, delivery, package, load, unload, Warehouse invoice, drop off, stocker, supervisor, loader, driver Department, accounting payroll, sales, budget, paycheck, Office raise, bonus, interview, hire, fire, project, manager, co-worker, employee, boss, applicant, interviewer, CEO, accountant Car accident, crime, victim, stolen, lost, arrest, crash, detain, Police station cell, police officer Check-in, baggage, luggage, boarding pass, seat assignment, Airport baggage, claim, board, depart, pilot, ticket agent, passenger, flight attendant Front desk, room service, room key, check-in, check out, desk Hotel clerk, guest, visitor, tourist Ticket, seats, sold out, refreshments, play, opera, performance, Theater attendant Package, ship, send, mail, stamp, by air, overnight, mail Post office carrier, postal worker Menu, order, appetizer, beverage, party, reservation, dish, bill, Restaurant check, table, waiter, server, host, hostess, chef II. POSSIBLE TYPES OF QUESTIONS 1. Type 1: Topic/Main ideas Common questions - What is this report about? - What is this announcement about? - What are people talking/speaking about? Tips - Pay attention to the beginning of the talk - Learn to recognize synonyms - Learn keywords that may give clues to topics and main ideas 7 Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below. You will hear: Woman: The annual City Festival of Music will take place next weekend at the National Theater.
The doors open on Sunday morning at 9:00 a. and there will be musical performances by local and national orchestras and bands all day until eight in the evening. This one-day-only event is a unique opportunity to hear performances by some of the country’s top musicians. Don’t miss it.
Tickets are on sale at the National Theater box office. Order your ticket today. What is this announcement about? A. A day of concerts (Track 4-04, Skills for the TOEC Test: Listening and Reading) 2.
Suggestions, Advice, Requests, Instructions Common questions - What does the speaker suggest people do? - What is the speaker asking people to get? - What is the first step in the process? Tips - Recognize words/expressions used for suggestions, advice, instructions, or requests: + Imperative verbs: Please => “Please line up at the gate” + Modals: should and must => “You should pay for your ticket ahead of time” + Certain expressions: you’d better, it’s better, it’s a good idea => “You’d better drive carefully” + Certain verbs: suggest, recommend, advice, want, tell, ask, request. => “I advise us not to tell this to our teacher” Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below. You will hear: Woman: Don’t know what to get your loved one for Valentine’s Day? Then we have the answer for you! Stop by Norby’s department store’s annual jewelry sale! Today we’re featuring any number of great deals on necklaces, earrings, and even diamond 8 rings. They make great gifts that let your loved one know just how you feel.
Norby’s department store - gift solutions for people who really care. What does the speaker NOT suggest people do? A. Buy their loved ones a gift B. Go shopping at Norby’s department store C.
Feature great deals D. Show people they care (Track 4-05, Skills for the TOEC Test: Listening and Reading) 2. Duration, Frequency, Quantity, Time Common questions - How long will the road be closed? - How often do the trains leave? - How many tickets are available? - When is the office open? Tips - Learn to distinguish between similar-sounding numbers and words. - Commonly confused numbers and time words: seven / eleven, sixteen / sixty, Tuesday / today / two days, Sunday / Monday.
Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below. You will hear: Man: For all passengers traveling on the 10:14 train to Cambridge, the train has been delayed 15 minutes due to engine problems. Repeat, the 10:14 train to Cambridge has been delayed 15 minutes and will now be departing at 10:29 a. Please adjust your travel plans accordingly.
How late is the train? A. Plans, Problems, Requests Common questions - What will the man do tomorrow? - What won’t the woman be able to do? - What are the speakers going to do next? - What is the man’s problem? 9 - What is the man asking the company to change? - What does the woman ask the man to do? - What does the man suggest the woman do? Tips - Learn to recognize common expressions and paraphrase for plans, problems, requests, or suggestions: + Request: Would you please…? Would it be possible for you to.? + Suggestions: Why don’t you.? Maybe we can. + Problems: The X has broken again. I can’t find my… + Plans: I need to… I’m going to… - Watch for the correct speaker in the answer options.
Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below. You will hear: Woman: Hi. I just saw a movie here. But when I got to my car.
I realized I didn’t have my keys. Do you think they fell out during the movie? Woman: Maybe. But I also bought candy. So they could have fallen out when I pulled my wallet out of my purse.
If you still have your ticket. I can let you in to search the theater. I’ll check at the refreshment stand. What problem does the woman have? A.
She lost her wallet B. She needs a ticket C. She misplaced her keys D. She can’t find her car (Track 3-06, Skills for the TOEC Test: Listening and Reading) 2.
Causes and Effects Common questions - Why does the man ask to leave the office? - Why is the woman going to Chicago? - Why was it necessary to increase the budget? Tips - Look for infinitives to + Vo. to recognize cause and effect questions. - Listen for words and expressions about causes and effects. + Causes: as a result of, were going to, isn’t going well, because, in order to, since … + Effects: we need to, we will, we have to, for this reason, will happen, so we have to… 10 Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below.
You will hear: Woman: Mr. Is it OK if I get out of the office a little earlier than usual? Man: Well. I’m expecting a few important phone calls. And the documents for the Howard presentation aren’t prepared.
Is it an emergency? Woman: No. It’s not like that. I just have to go to my optometrist because my glasses need to be adjusted. I guess it’s all right.
But make sure those documents are prepared tomorrow morning. I don’t want us making copies just before Mr. Why does the woman ask to leave? A. To visit an eye doctor B.
To place a phone call C. To make copies D. To pick up a client (Track 3-09, Skills for the TOEC Test: Listening and Reading) 2. People and places Common questions - Where did the man lose his phone? - Who suggested the budget change? - Where will the party be held? - Who will call the supplier? Tips - Identify the event or action in the question.
- Learn to identify conversational distracters about other people, groups, and places. Practice exercise Listen to the announcement and choose the best answer for the question below. You will hear: Woman: You’ve reached the office of Harold Crane. How can I help you? Man: Hi.
Joe Hewett speaking. I’m down in the warehouse and I have to check with Mr. Crane on an order. Woman: He’s actually on his way to corporate headquarters downtown.
Can I take a message? Man: Sure. We’ve got a delivery for State Hospital. But it doesn’t say which department to send it to. Where is Mr.
To his office 11 B. To the warehouse C. To the city D. To the hospital (Track 3-17, Skills for the TOEC Test: Listening and Reading) 3.
Type 3: Inference Common questions - Who most likely is the man? - Who are the speakers?