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Our Advanced courses are targeted at those who want to build on what they have learnt in the Upper Intermediate courses to make progress to CEFR C1 or C2 level (‘proficient user’).
There is no distinction between terms 1, 2, 3. Students may join the course for any of the terms.
At Advanced level, teachers diagnose the gaps and weaknesses in the learners’ knowledge. They seek to respond to the needs and interests of the learners, facilitating their development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in a range of contexts and helping them to fill gaps in their grammatical and lexical knowledge. The syllabus is therefore very much flexibly negotiated with the learners, with the teacher selecting from a course book and a bank of the most up to date authentic materials (video clips, texts derived from online and paper sources, etc.).
The Advanced courses represent a continuation of the Upper Intermediate courses. Students will continue to work on expressing ideas fluently and spontaneously and on holding their own in most situations. At this level, students will be able to understand most language surrounding them in the countries where the language is spoken and will be able to engage almost on a par with native speakers in most discussion, and classes will focus on diagnosing the gaps and weaknesses in the learners' knowledge and polishing existing skills.
The Advanced course aims to bring students up to level C1 or C2 (‘proficient user’) in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions
For further advice on your level and the most appropriate course, please, read the prerequisites or contact languagesforall@ed.ac.uk
Advanced is targeted at:
Existing students who have completed all 6 Upper Intermediate courses.
New students who have achieved a good grade in a Higher or A or AS Level and have since had significant further contact with the language.
New students who, through less formal contact, are able to interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity with native speakers i.e. those who have reached B2 in the CEFR: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions
‘Advanced’ is one level – there is no distinction between terms 1, 2 and 3.
If you have any queries, please, contact languagesforall@ed.ac.uk
The following is a sample of the likely material that may be covered in an advanced term:
Revision of grammar and lexis covered at lower levels with a special focus on areas of weakness and gaps in knowledge.
Less common areas of grammar and lexis used to express nuance and detail.
Idiomatic and colloquial spoken language
Debates and discussions on topical issues to improve speaking skills
Watching / listening and discussing news broadcasts, documentaries, reports, etc.
Writing - longer texts and genres – correspondence, reports, reviews, etc.
The above is a sample of the core topics typically covered at Advanced level and gives an indication of the likely content of the course. The content will vary from language to language.
The emphasis of all of our courses is speaking and listening. The lessons focus on language that is required for communicating in real situations.
The lessons include whole class activities and pair or small group work, role-play, responding to short texts and dialogues and watching video clips. Grammar is reinforced and consolidated in context. More extensive written exercises and reading texts are normally only set as homework.
Learning is assessed informally throughout the course with the teacher providing feedback on practice tasks at the end of the course in revision and tests.
Typically, the primary language used in the class is the language being learnt.
By the end of a series of at least 6 Advanced courses students will be able to:
Express ideas fluently and spontaneously managing to hold their own in almost all situations.
Understand most language surrounding them in the country where the language is spoken and engage almost on a par with native speaker in most discussion.
By the end of the Advanced course, students will have made significant progress to becoming ‘proficient users’ - levels C1 or C2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions
Students are not required to buy a course book. Handouts and/or reading materials will be provided by the tutor throughout the course.
The following will be useful for students:
Online dictionary: www.multitran.ru
Online transliteration: www.translit.ru
Where appropriate, further web sources will be provided.
If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.
If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.