Language Awareness Task

for: Cambridge ESOL CELTA and International House Certificate –IH Certificate in
TESOL/TEFL applicants ONLY

Please complete this task carefully as it is one of the factors we take into consideration
when making a decision about your application. You may like to refer to a grammar
book – e.g ‘How English Works’ by Michael Swan, published by Oxford University
Press, when preparing your answers

Name:      
Date of course applied for:      

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1. Correcting a student’s mistake

Each of the exchanges below contains a mistake. In each case:

a) write down the mistake

b) write the corrected version
c) write in simple terms, as if speaking to a learner of English, how you would
make the correction clear

(please enter text in the gray box)

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“I’d like some informations about your courses.”
“Certainly, here’s our brochure”

a      

b      

c      

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“Have you got any money?”
“Yes, I’ve been to the bank yesterday”

a      

b      

c      

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“Is John ill? He’s lost a lot of weight.”
“Yes, he is rather slender these days, isn’t he?”

a      

b      

c      
International House London Teacher Training
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A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE WORLD ORGANISATION
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”Why didn’t you answer the telephone?”
“Because I had a bath.”

a      

b      

c      

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2. Helping student understand differences in meaning

(i) Comment on the differences in meaning between the following pairs of sentences.
(ii) Outline some ideas on how you might teach these differences in meaning.

(please enter text in the gray box)

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a If I had the money, I’d buy a new car.

b If I have the money, I’ll buy a new car.

(i)      

(ii)      

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a The house was very isolated.

b The house was very secluded.

(i)      

(ii)      

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a Give me a hand with this bag, will you?

b Could you give me a hand with this bag, please?

(i)      

(ii)      

International House London Teacher Training

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A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE WORLD ORGANISATION
 3. On a separate page, please write approximately 300 words describing
EITHER a successful OR an unsuccessful learning experience you have
had. State your reasons why the experience was successful or
otherwise.

Please email your completed tasks to infott@ihlondon.com

Alternatively you may print and post them to:

International House London

Teacher Training Department
16 Stukeley Street
Covent Garden
London WC2B 5LQ

Please ensure you keep a copy for yourself.

International House London Teacher Training

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A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE WORLD ORGANISATION