BASIC ENGLISH II

DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE

Objective

At the end of the course, you will be able to communicate in English in everyday situations at a basic level.
You will be able to use the four skills (listening, speaking, writing and reading) to undertake meaningful
real tasks. Another objective of the course is to make you feel confident using English in different daily
situations, and to acquire practical tools and criteria to assess your learning process.

Methodology

For learning a foreign language successfully, you must be responsible for your own learning and exercise
that responsibility through preparing your lessons before classes, doing homework, working on your tasks,
your portfolio, and assessing your process. It is also necessary to use the target language as medium of
classroom communication, channel of learning, and tool for reflection. For this reason, all classes will be
given in English.
Your teacher will provide you with material, links to practice the topics and to acquire strategies, and
access to an educational platform (CANVAS). In addition, you will have to register your process on an
online portfolio that will be an important tool to evaluate your progress and receive constant feedback
from your teacher, your classmates, and yourself.

As previously mentioned, you are expected to work on tasks, which will help you practice and interiorize
the topics studied in each term.

Tasks

As part of the work you will do for this class, you will have to create three tasks (one task per term) and
some mini-tasks that will be part of the step-by-step process you will start working on from the first term.
These activities are aimed at enhancing your linguistic, communicative and technological skills.

FIRST TERM TASK

 FIRST TERM: THE FOOD I LIKE
Description You will do a short video (one minute) of yourself having breakfast or lunch at a table.
Mention what you are eating and describe the food and your opinion about it. Compare
that food to some other food and mention all the elements on the table. Later, all students
will share the videos in canvas to give comments to each other.
Topics Topic 1: What we do and what we are Topic 2: For better and for worse
doing
Language Review of simple present and simple Comparative adjectives, as+ adjectives+ as,
content present vs. present continuous superlative adjectives
Mini-tasks A) Write about a few members of your Write the script for your video. Make sure to
household in terms of theirs jobs and what meet the following criteria:
they normally do at work. For those who
do not have a job, describe what their daily Mention what you are eating and describe the
responsibilities are. food and your opinion about it. Compare that
food to some other food and mention all the
elements on the table.
B) For the present continuous you should
wait for your teacher’s instructions.

Suggested cellphone camera https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Food-

links Review (steps to write a review)
www.youtube.com
https://www.thedailymeal.com/how-review-
https://www.youtube.com/watch? restaurant (How to do a restaurant review)
v=IpYc7KrghOI (2-minute restaurant
review)
 SECOND TERM TASK

SECOND TERM: THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE

Description You will choose a person you admire to ask him/her different questions to know more about
his/her life. Then, you will write a short magazine article (3 paragraphs), step by step, and
will upload it in wix.com. There, you will complement it with pictures that show more about
that person and your relationship. Later, you will post it in canvas to provide questions and
comments among the members of the class.
Topics Topic 3: My childhood Topic 4: Lives

Language Past tense (affirmative and negative
content sentences)
Mini-tasks You need to write a paragraph about
an older person you can ask
questions to. Ask them meaningful
questions about their past in terms
childhood and family for you to get
some input for your paragraph.
Your paragraph needs:
 A topic sentence, supporting
sentences and concluding
sentence
 Connectors and time phrases
studied
 7 – 12 lines
Suggested https://www.youtube.com/watch?
links v=JQRoAiVyR0k&t=26s (how to
write a paragraph)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hQ1OwYu4GsY&t=135s (six ways
to start a sentence)
Past tense (yes/no questions and Wh questions in
past tense)
You need to write your second paragraph describing
that person’s most significant milestones in terms of
education and work experience.
Also, you need to write your third paragraph
narrating a hard or difficult experience that person
had as well as what you they learnt from that.
The paragraphs should meet the same criteria
explained before.
Important: these are two min-tasks. Teachers can
decide which one they want to evaluate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZibaJWPoWc
(tips to write an article)
www.wix.com
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/inter
actives/essaymap/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LdCOswMeXFQ (punctuation
explained)
 THIRD TERM TASK

FINAL TERM: A VISIT TO A THERAPIST/FORTUNETELLER

Description You will record a short video of yourself (one minute) in which you talk about your plans
and arrangements for the following week. Also, make some predictions about that future
using feelings and evidence.
Topics Topic 8: What will /might happen in 2025 Topic 9: My intentions and plans

Language “Will” for making promises and Going to and present continuous for plans
content spontaneous decisions and arrangements

Will vs. Might Modal verbs for making suggestions: Could,

should

Mini-tasks Make predictions about the future using
different levels of certainty.
Will / Will not
Write a short paragraph about your plans
and some of your relatives’ plans. Make sure
you understand the difference between
communicating plans and communicating
future agenda.

Might / Might not.

Suggested https://www.youtube.com/watch?
links v=pKIVqyZdVyQ
To be provided by teacher.
Cellphone camera
www.wordreference.com

  
Portfolio content
In the portfolio, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your process and to include evidence of your
learning experience in and out of the classroom (for example, activities, information, pictures, games, etc.)

Attendance
Attendance to every class is advisable because you need constant practice in speaking; and your teacher
needs to give you feedback on your progress with respect to how you communicate with others in English.
Also, during the classes you will have the opportunity to answer questions concerning concepts or
structures of the language.
Evaluation
The purpose of the evaluation is to measure your academic achievement throughout the course and to
identify specific aspects you can improve. To do this, coursework will include written and oral quizzes and
classwork, a task per each term, two term exams, a final exam, and a portfolio.

GRADING

FIRST 30% Task 1 5%

Quizzes and classwork 5%
Portfolio 5%
Exam 1 15%
SECOND 30% Task 2 5%
Quizzes and classwork 5%
Portfolio 5%
Exam 2 15%
FINAL 40% Portfolio 5%
Final task 10%
Quizzes and classwork 5%
Final Exam 20%

Class topics
These are the topics you will study throughout the semester.
 FIRST TERM
FIRST TERM: A RESTAURANT I LIKE
VOCABULARY
TOPIC/ACTIVITY FUNCTIONAL CONTENTS GRAMMAR CONTENTS
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTOR
Y SESSION Explanation of rules, methodology, evaluation, portfolio, important dates, etc.
(1 session)
- Daily routines (take
- Review of simple present a bus – a taxi/drive to
(affirmative, negative and work, eat a lot/go on
interrogative sentences) a diet, watch tv
- Talking about habits, -watch a series on
Topic 1: - Simple Present vs. Present
routines, and facts. Netflix/read a book,
continuous (affirmative,
WHAT WE DO cook/eat out)
negative and interrogative
AND WHAT WE sentences) - Time expressions
ARE DOING - Talking about temporary and
for routines and for
permanent situations
(3 sessions) temporary situations
(frequency adverbs,
now, right now,
currently, these days,
at this moment, at
the moment)
-Physical description
(adjectives for
describing height,
Topic 2: - Comparative adjectives weight, hair,
- Describing people
FOR BETTER complexion, other
- Comparing food and - As + adjective + as
AND FOR features)
restaurants - Superlative adjectives
WORSE - Adjectives to
- Ordering at a restaurant describe restaurants
(3 sessions)
(expensive, cheap,
fancy, cozy,
crowded, popular)
SELF-
ASSESSMENT 1 Session in which you will be able to reflect upon your learning process so far.
(1 session)
 SECOND TERM
SECOND TERM: THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN MY LIFE
VOCABULARY
TOPIC/ACTIVITY FUNCTIONAL CONTENTS GRAMMAR CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Topic 3: - Talking about childhood - Past tense of some regular - Childhood
memories and irregular verbs memories: School,
MY CHILDHOOD
(affirmative and negative games (play:
(4 sessions) sentences) hopscotch, hide and
sick, fly a kite; toys a
movie; and house).

- Childhood typical
activities: ( go to the
park, watch TV, eat
ice-cream, ride a
bike, and swim)

- Time phrases: (Last

…, ---ago, in…)
Topic 4: - Talking about their lives and - Past tense of some regular - Lifelines (be born,
their favorite people’s lives and irregular verbs. grow up, study, start
LIVES
work, get married,
- Yes/no questions and wh-
(3 sessions) have kids, get
questions in past tense
divorced, die)

- Time phrases (after

that, before that,
then, 2 years later)

SELF-
ASSESSMENT 2 Session in which you will be able to reflect upon your learning process so far.
(1 session)

FINAL TERM
FINAL TASK: MY HOBBIES AND TALENTS
VOCABULARY
TOPIC/ACTIVITY FUNCTIONAL CONTENTS GRAMMAR CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Topic 5: WHAT - Making predictions - Will vs. Might - Technology
WILL HAPPEN
- Transport
IN 2025?
- Communications
 (4 sessions)
Topic 6: - Planning and arranging - Going to and present - Time phrases (next,
continuous for plans and in, tomorrow, the
INTENTIONS - Making suggestions
arrangements (affirmative, day after tomorrow,
AND PLANS
negative and interrogative soon)
(5 sessions) sentences)
- Short and long-
- Modal verbs for making term plans
suggestions: could, should (academic,
(affirmative and negative professional and
sentences) personal goals)
SELF-
ASSESSMENT 4 Session in which you will be able to reflect upon your learning process so far.
(1 session)

Important dates
The following are the dates on which key activities will be carried out.

TERM   EXAM – TASK PRESENTATION  

1 TERM  
st
August 31– September 5  

(August 03– September 5)  

2 TERM  
nd
October 12 – October 17 

(September 07– October 17)  

FINAL TERM   November 23– November 28

(October 19 – November 28)  

SUGESTED LINKS

TOPIC 1

Habits, routines and facts:

http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvFba-9CgbU
https://www.press.umich.edu/pdf/9780472033096-unit1.pdf

Temporary situations Vs. Permanent situations:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBRIBtq7q0
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCwSNGm1t4M

TOPIC 2
Comparatives and superlatives:
http://tatianasociologia56.blogspot.com/2012/02/comparatives-superlatives-pysical.html
https://www.englisch-
hilfen.de/en/exercises/adjectives_adverbs/adjectives_comparison_sentences.htm
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/adjectives_adverbs/adjectives_comparison_as_as.htm
https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/adjectives-adverbs/adjectives/exercises
https://agendaweb.org/grammar/comparative-adjectives-exercises.html

Physical Appearance:
https://englishpost.org/2014/10/26/description-and-comparison-of-peoples-physical-appearance-and-
traits/
http://tatianasociologia56.blogspot.com.co/2012/02/comparatives-superlatives-pysical.html
https://prezi.com/yaomrfxetu_d/description-and-comparison-of-peoples-physical-appearance-a/

Food and Restaurants:

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading-skills-practice/food-and-restaurants
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/video-uk/food-britain

Ordering at a restaurant:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWafoyMV9ug
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mw9-uk_QFk

TOPIC 3
Past tense:

http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/elc/Sample/Advanced/gs/gs_05.htm
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/sim_past.htm

-ed Pronunciation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j32SurxnE4s
http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/simple_past_tense04.html

How to write:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRoAiVyR0k (how to write a paragraph)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ1OwYu4GsY&t=127s (how to start sentences)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxuSj8WYAp0 (how to write an article)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS5xKed2-5M (how to write a descriptive essay)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIqinFFIXE (how to write a biography)

TOPIC 4
Life stages:
http://esl.fis.edu/vocab/q1/life.htm
http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/simple_past_tense04.html (time expressions in past)

Questions:
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-simple-exercise-6.html
https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/wh-question-words.htm

Grammar:
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-simple-past.php (simple past tense
exercises)
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/complex_tests/simple_past1/index.php (simple past complex test)

TOPIC 5

Making predictions:
http://www.really-learn-english.com/future-predictions.html
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-m_future.htm

What will or might happen in 2025:

https://es.slideshare.net/mariaalejandra125/will-and-might
http://www.english-at-home.com/will-might-going-to/
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/modal1.html

TOPIC 6
Intentions and Plans:

http://www.english-at-home.com/grammar-future-intentions/
https://es.slideshare.net/51625678/future-plans-and-intentions https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=G7YVSmpDFZQ
http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/will-or-be-going-to.html
https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/going_to_future_statements.htm

Modal should

http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/Should1A.html
http://www.focus.olsztyn.pl/en-should-should-not-exercises.html#.W1SEEdJKjIV