Merry Christmas

Dear ECCE students,

I wish you a Merry Christmas and I hope that all your dreams come true.

It is wonderful to share and learn from you all.
Warm Regards
Miss Jennifer

Common Errors

Take a look at the following sentences and spot the mistake.

- She is no longer capable to do her job properly.

-This type of job requires special capacities.

- Her blue eyes and long blond hair captured him.

-I went into the car and turned on the engine.

-She got out from the car and apologized.

-These children need a special care and attention.

-Some women stay at home to take care after the children.

-After ten years as a taxi driver, he decided it was time to change his career.

-Be careful to water the African violets regularly.

Connectors

Why are connectors important for your test?

• To improve your writing
• To speak better

Take a look at the following links and memorize the first set of connectors like that you start using them inmediately.

Sentence Connectors
Addition, Opposition, Cause and Effect, Comparison, Contracts and Condition.

A brief explanation of conjuctions

English and Spanish list of Connectors

Logical Connectors
A short exercise where you have to use connectors

Listening sites

Below you will find a list of great listening sites. Happy listening!!

Audio for ESL you listen and read along

English as a 2nd language English Listening Skills and Activities-Effective Listening Practice

World English Listening to radios

ESL Lab Can find easy, medium and difficult listening with adult and children´t voice

Practice Tests

I found some free Michigan Practice Tests. Try to do them and then watch the Youtube video.

Multiple choice
Michigan Test Practice Tests
Grammar Test
Sample tests

Take a look at the following video and post a comment about it!!

Main Examinations Chart

Let´s review some important points of the ECCE Examination.

In this chart on the Main Examinations of English as a Foreign Language you will clearly understand all the different sections of the exam and you can also compare them with other International exams.

This exam is also called The Michigan Advantage but don´t panic because it has the same level as the First Certificate in English given by Cambridge ESOL.

Today we will focus on Grammar, Vocabulary and Reading (GVR) a section of 80 minutes.
There are many great sites where you can enhance your learning. Let´s take a look at some of them:

Grammar:

• Guide to Grammar and Writing The Guide to Grammar and Writing is sponsored by the Capital Community College Foundation, a nonprofit 501 c-3 organization that supports scholarships, faculty development, and curriculum innovation
• Grammar Now Has a great section of Resources really worth taking a look at it.
• Guide to Grammar and Style Theory on Grammar

ECCE Exam

Dear Students,

Today we will take the ECCE exam in class.
Oxford Univeristy Press provides us with free online samples tests to practise.

Good Luck!!

Changes in the ECCE Speaking and Writing Scoring Criteria

New Five-Level Rubrics for the Speaking and Writing Tests for the ECCE
As of the 2006 November-December ECCE, the speaking and writing sections of the ECCE are scored using five-level rubrics.
Based on research done at ELI-UM, the new rubrics for these sections of the ECCE were developed after a thorough analysis of test takers’ performances while using the speaking and writing sections of the ECCE examination. The tasks that candidates are asked to do during the speaking and writing tests have not changed. Only the rubrics for the speaking and writing tests have moved from four level to 5 level scales. The new scales more precisely describe the levels of the ECCE candidates and more accurately reflect the features of communication that candidates use. The ECCE aims for the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), and all three passing levels meet (level C) or exceed (levels A and B) the standards for the ECCE speaking and writing tests. The new five-level speaking and writing scales are criterion-referenced scales.
Neither the scoring system nor the information reported in the Exam Reports has changed. The ECCE is scored using the aggregate scoring method. Students who do not pass one of the sections of the exam may pass the exam if their scores on other sections are significantly higher than the minimum pass level. Students who fail two or more sections will not pass the exam. Either passing or failing the test, all candidates who take the ECCE get an Exam Report showing their performance level together with a description of that level for each section of the test.
Below is a summary of the five levels used to evaluate candidates’ performance during the ECCE speaking and writing tests. The rating for the speaking section is assigned by local examiners. The rating for the writing section is assigned by trained raters at ELI-UM.
The ECCE Information Bulletin (PDF; 1.2 MB) includes the general descriptions of the 5-level rubrics for speaking and writing. The Information Bulletin is available online or at our test centers abroad. The following charts summarize the five levels of performance according to these rubrics.
ECCE Speaking Score Levels (suitable for examinees) (PDF)
ECCE Speaking Rating Scale (for examiners) (PDF)
ECCE Writing Score Levels (PDF)
Sample Benchmark Letters for the writing sectionSample benchmark letters illustrate the five levels of the rubric. Each letter has comments and annotations explaining why ELI-UM–trained raters agreed on a specific grade.

Source: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/eli_detail/0,2853,24949%255Farticle%255F38149,00.html

Sample Tests

Take a look at these samples of the Exam:
As regards Content
Student Book
Teacher´s Book

Before starting practising for the test print the Answer Sheets

Sample Test all papers

ECCE 2000

Listening Section
2000 Listening Section Audio Files

You will need these files to complete questions 1–50 of the 2000 ECCE Final Examination practice test.
Part I
Instructions and Questions 1–25- Real Audio File- MP3 (13.5 MB)
Part II
Instructions and questions 26–30- Real Audio File- MP3 (12.7 MB)

Notice

The format of Part 2 of the Listening section has changed since the 2000 ECCE administration. Please see the instructions for details, as well as review the ECCE Listening Section Part 2 new format materials below.
Examples and Answer Choices (PDF)
Answer Sheet (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)
Instructions and Questions 31-50- Real Audio File- MP3 (6.4 MB)

Answer Key ECCE 2000

What is ECCE?

The Examination for the Certificate of Competency in English (ECCE) is a standardized high-intermediate level English as a foreign language (EFL) examination. It is aimed at the B2 (Independent User, Vantage) level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), and is developed and scored by the English Language Institute of the University of Michigan (ELI-UM). The ECCE is given twice annually at ELI-UM–approved test centers in Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

The emphasis of the ECCE is on the communicative use of English rather than on a formalistic knowledge of the language. It is aimed at students who are able to function and perform essential communicative transactions in all four skill areas of the language (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). While the ECCE is not an academically oriented exam, it may be seen as a bridge to such an exam (e.g., ECPE, MELAB). The ECCE level is similar to the Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), or to TOEFL scores ranging from 450 to 525.

Examinees can use the ECCE certificate as evidence of high-intermediate competence in English for personal, public, educational, and occupational purposes. For example, in several countries the ECCE is used as an exit exam at the end of a course of study. In addition, it is also used to provide evidence of one's level of English to employers. Successful examinees may find an ECCE certificate useful when applying for a job or a promotion, or when conducting business with companies worldwide.

ELI-UM is committed to excellence in its tests, which are developed in accordance with the highest standards in educational measurement. All parts of the examination are written following specified guidelines, and items are pretested to ensure that they function properly. ELI-UM works closely with test centers to ensure that its tests are administered in a way that is fair and accessible to examinees and that the ECCE is open to all people who wish to take the exam, regardless of the school they attend.

The ECCE tests all four skill areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It emphasizes the ability of the examinee to communicate effectively in English.

Source: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/eli_detail/0,2853,24943%255Farticle%255F47917,00.html

Describing Pictures

Dear Students,

Let´s start by learning vocabulary. First take a look at the vocabulary needed to describe pictures in the following links.



http://www.schule-studium.de/Englisch/How_to_describe_pictures.html

http://www.xinminss.moe.edu.sg:1285/english_speaking/picture1.html

http://www.eslflow.com/describingpeoplelessonplans.html

http://splendidspeaking.podomatic.com/entry/2006-11-30T07_30_39-08_00