SENIOR 4

CEFR B1–Independent User

The students...
CAN understand the main points of clear standard speech on familiar matters
regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc
LISTENING

CAN understand the main point of any radio or TV programmes on current affairs or
topics of personal or professional interest when the delivery is relatively slow and
clear.
CAN predict content in a conversation, a radio interview, chat-show, etc.

CAN understand detail in texts that consist mainly of high frequency everyday or
job/study-related language
CAN understand the description of events, feelings and wishes in personal
letters/emails.
CAN find specific information in job advertisements, TV guides and emails.
READING

CAN follow the main points in tourist guides, brochures and instructions and longer
texts.
CAN understand some new words in authentic texts such as magazine articles.
CAN identify text type.
CAN use background knowledge to predict content and use headings and visuals to
understand text and to predict content.
CAN interpret writer’s intentions.

CAN deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the
language is spoken.
CAN enter unprepared into conversation on topics that are familiar, of personal
SPEAKING

interest or pertinent to everyday likes (e.g. family, hobbies, work, travel and current
events)
CAN connect phrases in a simple way in order to describe experiences and events,
dreams, hopes and ambitions.
CAN briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans.
CAN narrate a story or relate the plot of a book or film and describe their reactions.
CAN write simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest.
CAN combine ideas using connectors for sequence and reason
CAN write personal letters/emails describing experiences and impressions.
CAN write simple texts using the following genres:
WRITING

 Informal letter or email

 Short article
 Narrative
 Description
 Review

1
GRAMMATICAL CONTENT
By the end of the course the students should be able to understand and
produce the following in addition to the contents listed in the previous
Senior syllabi.

Function Grammar
Talking about the past Past continuous
Past simple
Used to
Past perfect

Using perfect tenses Present perfect simple

Present perfect continuous

Contrasting tenses Past simple vs. present perfect simple

Present perfect simple vs. present
perfect continuous
Past continuous, past simple and past
perfect

Talking about the future Going to future

Predicting the future (will probably,
probably won’t, be likely to, might/not,
may /not)
Future continuous

Expressing obligation, prohibition, Have to, must, mustn’t, can, don’t have
permission and lack of necessity to, be allowed to

Expressing regrets Should/shouldn’t have + past participle

Speculating in the present Must/ can’t/ could/ might + infinitive

Reporting Statements
Questions
Orders

Using reporting verbs agree, offer, refuse, ask, order, invite,

suggest, apologise for, etc.

Using verb patterns Infinitive or Gerund: imagine, feel like,

suggest, practise, miss, avoid, mean, look
forward to, hope, expect, afford, choose

2
Using gerunds and infinitives with change Remember, stop, regret, mean, try, etc
in meaning

Changing focus (passive voice & causative Present , past, present perfect, and
use of have) future
Have something done.

Using cohesive devices if, as, when, until, as soon as,

despite, in spite of
So, such, such…that

Expanding information Defining relative clauses

Non-defining relative clauses

TOPICS AND VOCABULARY AREAS

The list below does not provide an exhaustive register of all the areas which can be taught
at the level and it is simply meant as a guide of the most likely semantic fields the students
may encounter. It is strongly recommendable that all the listed Topics and Vocabulary
Areas should be addressed.

Free time activities, hobbies, sports

Food
Adjectives to describe character and personality
Travelling and holidays
Home, furniture and materials
Superstitions
Technology and communication
Healthy habits
The news and the media
Business ideas and professional achievements
Feelings
Money and finance
Jobs and activities
Adjectives to describe objects and products
Problems in the home
Reporting verbs

3
WRITING
The candidates will be asked to produce a text of about 100 words using any of the
following formats:

 an email or letter
 a description
 a short article
 narrative
 a review