B2 – Independent user: 

Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Grammar Syllabus – B2 – general outline:

Ø  Determiners  (Articles – a/an, the); 

Ø  Prepositions:  Prepositions with adjectives/nouns/verbs; 

Ø  Adjectives;  Comparative structures; 

Ø  Past tenses;  Used to/would (nb ≠ be/get used to); 

Ø  Present perfect simple;  Present perfect continuous;  Past perfect simple/continuous; 

Ø  Past & Present perfect simple with superlatives  (It was / is the first time that …); 

Ø  Present simple with future meaning in time clauses starting with when, as soon as, once, after, until etc.; 

Ø  Future in the past  (was/were going to);  Other expressions with future meaning  (to be + to-inf., etc.); 

Ø  Conditionals:   Mixed conditionals;  

Ø  Conditionals – Formal style:  conditionals without if,  use of should for if in 1st cond.;     use of should / were… to+inf  for if in 2nd cond.;  inversion of had + subject instead of if in 3rd cond.;   

Ø  Wish / If only  +  past tense,   + past perfect;   + would;  + could ;   

Ø  Subjunctive – use after certain verbs (suggest, demand, insist, recommend etc),  and the ‘unreal’ past; 

Ø  Verbs  with – ing forms & infinitives; 

Ø  Reported speech:  Reported questions;  Orders/requests/advice:  Reporting verb patterns; 

Ø  Relative and other clauses; 

Ø  (Linking words:  Differences (contrast) );   

Ø  Causatives  (have something done, etc.); 

Ø  Passive reporting verbs  (He is thought to be rich, etc.)  (+  Infinitive phrases/ clauses);.  

Ø  Phrasal verbs; 

Ø  Emphasis:  Inversion (after initial negative or restrictive adverbs or expressions (No sooner ..  etc);  Fronting; 

Ø  (Phonetics:  International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA);  Dictionaries – Bilingual, Monolingual, Thesaurus.) 

Reading comprehension/writing: 

Some past reading comprehension/writing papers will be used for practice during the course (see file “Lingua inglese prove scritte – esempi – 2” on Moodle), plus texts from other sources. 

The teaching material prepared by the language assistant in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the language assistant specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Course books

The prescribed grammar reference book for second year English is :  Mark Foley, Diane Hall,  MY GRAMMAR LAB – Intermediate B1/B2, with key,  Pearson, 2012. 

The reading text required for the Oral Test is:  "Short Stories " (autori vari, a cura di R.A. Henderson, CIDEB, 2003) . 

See the “Guidelines – LIN-OC – 2” file on Moodle (› blended.uniurb.it)  for further information on these texts, and on the Written and Oral exams.