CELTA Pre-Interview Task The following areas reflect linguistic and methodological issues central to the CELTA course. Don t spend hours on end writing your responses, but do think carefully about your replies. Both how you go about responding and the accuracy of what you produce is significant. Yes, it does seem that there is quite an admissions procedure to this course! Letters, tasks, interviews please realise, though, these are designed to safeguard your interests, before you make any commitment, and to admit to the CELTA only those who have demonstrated sufficient aptitude for this type of work. Please write your answers clearly in pen. 1 Vocabulary adjectives Mark the adjective that would occur most frequently with the noun in capitals. The first one has been done for you. dark hearty total deep SLEEP sturdy robust BREAKFAST heavy fine burly speedy delicate airy LUNCH rapid brisk WALK light leisurely swift grand relaxing slow STROLL large enormous BUSINESS tardy big Now choose five of the adjectives you have not selected, one from each group. Write a noun that would typically follow each adjective. One is done as an example: heavy drinker Page 1
2 Grammar verb forms Complete the following text by inserting the most appropriate form of the verbs in brackets (and other words where given). Ensure the final version reads as natural, correct English. The Melbourne Cup of 1993 saw (see) the first attack on the race by European-trained horses. Plenty of overseas trainers... (express) their interest through the eighties, but it... (be) only in this year that four European horses eventually... (take) part. The Irish raider, Vintage Crop,... (shoot) clear of his opponents and... (go) into the history books as the first overseas horse... (triumph). Race organisers... (seek) to attract more international horses in the years that... (follow). A dozen or so... (come), but seldom... (they meet) with any success. In October 1998 the English horse Taufan s Melody... (fly) up the inside rail to win the Caulfield Cup. Then, as the first Tuesday in November... (approach), fearful local trainers... (argue) that too many overseas horses... (invite) for the Melbourne Cup and that the event... (lose) its appeal. The New Zealander Jezabeel eventually... (win) the 1998 running. So there... (still/be/only) one successful European assault on the major prize in Australian racing. But it s a good bet that the top trainers in France, England and Ireland... (plan/already) future expeditions Down Under. They... (send) their best, not only because they... (hear) of the race that... (stop) a nation but also they... (love) a share of the glory it... (offer). By the middle of the next century, experts predict overseas invaders... (carry off) the prize a dozen times or more. Page 2
3 Grammar parts of speech Complete the table Verb Noun Adjective Adverb sadden sadness sad sadly long die free usefully 4 Pronunciation Underline the stressed syllable in each of the following words. The first one has been done for you: elapsing guarantee insurance electric electrical electricity about often sugar 5 Function The following dialogues are incomplete. Complete them by selecting the checkbox for an appropriate response. Dialogue One: Will you give me a shout in the morning? Half past seven. OK, but don t grab the bathroom before me. Dialogue Two: Excuse me, could you give me a wake-up call in the morning? Half past seven. Fine, I ll see to that for you. Page 3
6 Reflection Looking back over the first three sections, what difficulties do you think non-english speakers have when trying to learn English? Page 4
7 Approaches to teaching Most students want to improve their speaking skills. Have you got any ideas on how to go about helping them fulfil this wish in a classroom setting? Name Signature Thank you. Send this completed task to Holmes Teacher Training and we will contact you concerning an interview. Page 5