January 2021 Advanced Reading Comprehension

These are Knowledge and Understanding discussions so prior reading and consideration, and the sharing of personal views and experiences is expected. Each work is also available in "Practice and Feeback" support; please ask for details. A C1 or higher level is assumed.

Week One     Monday 4 - Friday 8 January 11.00am - 12.00pm daily

Session One :    )
Session Two :    )     Texts this week are "EFL" in nature*, chosen from
Session Three :  )     materials produced for EFL language acquisition and
Session Four :    )     development and identified as specifically for this level.
Session Five :    )

Week Two     Monday 11 - Friday 15 January 11.00am - 12.00pm daily
Session One :    )
Session Two :    )     Texts this week are "E2L" in nature*, chosen from
Session Three :  )     materials produced for E2L language acquisition and
Session Four :    )     development and identified as specifically for this level.
Session Five :    ): 

Week Three     Monday 18 - Friday 22 January 11.00am - 12.00pm daily
Session One :    )
Session Two :    )     Texts this week are "E2L" in nature*, chosen from
Session Three :  )     materials produced for E2L language acquisition and
Session Four :    )    development and identified as specifically for this level.
Session Five :    )

Week Four     Monday 25 - Friday 29 January 11.00am - 12.00pm daily
Session One :    )
Session Two :    )    Texts this week are "E1L" in nature*, chosen from
Session Three :  )    materials produced for E1L language acquisition and
Session Four :    )    development. These texts are accessible to C1/C2 
Session Five :    )    learners and users.

Each session considers one short text (650 - 1000 words) at a C1/C2 level. EFL texts typically have a narrower or more controlled range of vocabulary and structures than E2L, while E1L texts have a wider range of and more complex vocabulary and structures, with the addition of more figurative and idiomatic language. These E1L texts are challenging but accessible to those with a C1/C2, and you are reminded that it is "the task and not the text" which matters. The texts chosen are of similar types (genres), however subject matter varies.

Texts will be sent to participants the day prior to allow for pre-reading and sessions will review the texts' explicit meaning, with some exploration of implicit meaning as time allows, and are delivered online via "Meet" so a gmail account is required.

This is a probable scope and sequence; we will let you know of any changes and improvements.

You can register for one session, one programme, five programmes, all 100 sessions or anything in between! Each session has a maximum size so first come, first served.

Presenter Robert Young has a Masters from Oxford, a Bachelors from Auckland, a New Zealand Diploma of Teaching and the RSA DELTA (now Cambridge DELTA). Prior to becoming an international, British, Cambridge and IB school Director, he was a middle and high school English Language and Literature and Journalism teacher in EFL, E2L, E1L, Cambridge International and IB schools.

*EFL = English as a Foreign Language, E2L = English as a Second Language, E1L = English as a First Language. No agreement exists as to the distinctions, but in general terms :
C1 and above EFL = language acquisition only with a narrower or more restricted or controlled range of vocabulary, grammar and usages. EFL texts are often purpose-written, or re-written so are not usually authentic.
C1 above ESL = language acquisition and development with an introduction to considerations such as language in context, and a wider but still restricted range of vocabulary, grammar and usages. E2L texts may be purpose-written, re-written or authentic.

C1 above E1L = language development with no limit to vocabulary, grammar and usage and with a focus on purpose and effect of language use, and response to and analysis thereof. E1L texts are fully authentic and not re-written.

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Please contact us with any queries, for fee and registration information or to be placed on any specific interest list(s). 

Ask us about a closed session of any of the above where you choose who, where and when. 

Ask us about Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A-Level and IBMYP, IB Dip Literature, Lang&Lit and Language support.

Ask us for a referral to a CAE, CPE or IELTS preparation specialist.