English B2-1 (FSI-0A7)

The aim of this course is to reinforce students' individual competencies in expressing themselves fluently and accurately in English in order to gain greater confidence when communicating in international and multicultural settings.

Previously acquired knowledge of grammar and vocabulary will be reviewed and systematically expanded through practical, real-life contexts. This will improve students' grammatical accuracy and range of vocabulary, as well as their ability to participate in discussions on a variety of general and social topics.

On successful completion of the course, students should be able to communicate in English independently at the B2 level.

The course can also be used as a preparation for international English language exams.

The minimum entry requirement for this course is the knowledge of B1 grammar and vocabulary according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Links to other subjects:
compulsory prerequisite: English - Exam B1 [7AZ]

The course of general English B2-1 (0A7) is intended for students who have achieved the B1 level of English according to The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and seek to advance their language competence to the level B2. The course is likewise beneficial for those students who have already mastered the B2 level and would like to further strengthen and refine their communicative and academic English language skills.

The course primarily focuses on improving students' fluency and communication skills through topic-based discussions addressing a wide range of current-world matters as well as general and personal topics. Frequent communicative classroom interactions aim to increase students' confidence in speaking. Their ability to express themselves fluently in a variety of personal, social and academic contexts will gradually improve, together with their grammatical and lexical accuracy.

Course-unit credit is awarded on condition of class participation, regular attendance and successful completion of the credit test.

The attendance in the course is compulsory with two absences permitted. In well-founded cases, extra absences can be made up for after consulting the situation with the teacher.

The credit test is designed to assess students' ability to comprehend  a written text and to work with vocabulary on the B2 level. The test is administered in the credit week. Students must achieve a minimum of 50% of the total score to pass the test.

Week 1: introduction; icebreakers; asking questions
Week 2: direct and indirect questions; personality adjectives; self-description
Week 3: present perfect vs. past tense; speaking about identity; describing feelings and experiences
Week 4: present perfect simple vs. continuous; speaking about current world and social issues; effecting changes
Week 5: passive voice forms; security versus personal privacy
Week 6: using passive voice forms; new ways of living
Week 7: future forms; speaking about locations and ways of travelling
Week 8: practicing future forms; speaking about plans, decisions and goals
Week 9: reduced relative clauses, using -ing and past participles; places and wellbeing
Week 10: narrative tenses; telling stories; phrasal verbs
Week 11: expressing wishes and regrets; speaking about life regrets
Week 12: practicing past forms I wish I had… / hadn’t… ; I should have... / I shouldn’t have…
Week 13: credit test

CLARE, Antonia, JJ WILSON. Speakout B2: Student´s Book, 3rd Edition. Pearson. [2023]. ISBN 978-1-292-35954-0.

GAIRNS Ruth, Stuart REDMAN. Oxford Word Skills, upper-intermediate - advanced vocabulary. OUP. [2022]. ISBN 978 0 19460575 5

CARTER, Ronald, Michael McCARTHY. Cambridge Grammar of English. Cambridge. [2006]. ISBN 0-521-67439-5.