Skills for Life Teaching Resources

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• Reading Entry 1-3
• Writing Entry 1-3
• Writing Levels 1 and 2
• Speaking and Listening Entry 1-3
  1. About the Paper
  2. Classroom Activities
  3. Skills Development
  4. Other Information
• Speaking and Listening Levels 1 and 2

Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Entry 1-3 – Phase 2a

 

Task Description

How long does Phase 2a last?
This phase lasts 4 minutes at Entry 1 and 2, and 5 minutes at Entry 3.

 

What is the purpose of Phase 2a?
Candidates listen to two short recordings and answer questions which test the understanding of simple factual information.

 

What skills are being assessed?
Candidates are assessed according to all three strands (Listen and Respond, Speak to Communicate, Engage in Discussion) of the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum. A breakdown of the assessment criteria can be found in Focus on Assessment.

 

What do the candidates have to do?

Entry 1 and 2
Candidates listen to two recordings twice. Before they hear the recordings for the first time they are asked a gist question which refers to both recordings. They are given three picture prompts to help them with this initial question. The question is repeated at the end of the first listening, and at this point the candidates have to provide an answer. Candidates are then asked two detail questions each before listening to the recording for a second time. Again, the questions are repeated after the recording before the candidate is expected to answer. Candidates can make a note of key words in the questions and of their answers before and during the recordings

 

Entry 3
The format is broadly the same, though there may only be a single recording, in the form of a dialogue. The candidates are not given picture prompts to help with the gist question.

Understanding the Task

To understand better how candidates need to approach this task, it may help you to look at and analyse some tasks.

 

Look at the sample Phase 2a tasks from Skills for Life Speaking & Listening Entry 1, 2 and 3 sample papers, and think about what candidates have to do.

 

Sample Phase 2a Task Entry 1

 

Sample Phase 2a Task Entry 2

 

Sample Phase 2a Task Entry 3

 

Things to consider

Now look at these questions about the nature of the task and consider your answers.

1. When there are two recordings, how are they related to each other?
2. Can candidates ask for the questions to be repeated before the recording begins?
3. Can candidates help each other in this part of the test?
4. Can candidates make notes during this part of the test?