Skills for Life. Guidelines for Interlocutors: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Levels 1, 2

41 Pages·0.206 MB·English

Skills for Life
Speaking and Listening mode
Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3
Level 1, Level 2
Guidelines for
Interlocutors
From 2010
RESTRICTED
For Interlocutor Use Only
Skills for Life
Guidelines for Interlocutors:
Entry 1, 2, 3 and Levels 1, 2

Cambridge ESOL welcomes feedback on these
materials and on the general role of Speaking and

Listening mode interlocutors. If you would like to pass
on any comments or questions please do so to:
The Skills for Life Subject Manager
University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations

1 Hills Road
Cambridge
CB1 2EU

UK

Telephone: [phone]

Reference: EPA1037 Version: 1.0
Reference: EPA1037 Version: 1.0
Skills for Life Guidelines for Interlocutors:
General Introduction 5
How to Use the Training Materials 5
Interlocutor Training Package 5
Time Required for Training 6
Necessary Information for Interlocutors 6
Initial Training
Initial Training: Timing and Planning 9
Detailed Guidelines – Part One: Test Format 9
General Information 9
Entry 1 9
Entry 2 10
Entry 3 10
Level 1 11
Level 2 12
Detailed Guidelines – Part Two: Interlocutor Skills 12
Refresher session
Refresher Session: Timing and Planning 15
Detailed Guidelines – Part One: Test Format 15
Entry 1 15
Entry 2 15
Entry 3 16
Level 1 16
Level 2 17
Detailed Guidelines – Part Two: Interlocutor Skills 17
Task Sheets
General Introduction Quiz 19
Test Format Gap-Fills 20 – 24
Interlocutor Skills Worksheet 25
1
Interlocutor File
General Information Sheet 29
Test Format Tables 30 – 34
Checklist for Interlocutors 35
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General Introduction
This booklet and accompanying materials are for use
by teachers who are going to act as interlocutors for the
Cambridge ESOL Skills for Life Speaking and
Listening mode at any level: Entry 1, 2, 3 and Levels 1,
2. It contains guidance and information on the
following:
• being an interlocutor for the first time at one or
more of the levels (pages 8 – 12)
• refreshing the interlocutor role after a break in
examining (pages 14 – 17)
• timing and planning of an interlocutor
training/refresher session (pages 9/15)
• the test format and interlocutor roles for each of
the levels (pages 29 – 34)
• essential information for interlocutors (page 35)
How to Use the Training
Materials
If a group of teachers at the same institution are
training to be interlocutors at the same time, they
should do the session together. This approach has the
advantage of making it possible for the group to
discuss issues or questions and to share experience and
knowledge.
Before beginning either training for the first time or a
refresher session, you should check that you have all of
the following materials ready. Please note that you will
need to make copies of some of the pages/activities
before you start and you can find information on this in
the relevant section. You will also need access to a
quiet room with a TV, a DVD player and a CD player.
Interlocutor Training Package
The following materials are needed for an interlocutor
training or refresher session:
• Skills for Life Training DVDs for Interlocutors,
Entry 1, 2, 3 and Levels 1, 2: from 2010
• Skills for Life Guidelines for Interlocutor
Training: from 2010, (this booklet) containing the
following:
– General Introduction Quiz (page 19)
– Test Format tables (pages 29-34)
– Interlocutor Skills Worksheet (pages 25/26)
– Checklist for Interlocutors (Page 35)
• Sample Skills for Life Speaking and Listening test
materials at the appropriate level(s). Some sample
materials are available on the DVD and others are
available on the Cambridge ESOL website.
5
Time Required for Training
The first time a potential interlocutor prepares to run
Skills for Life Speaking and Listening tests they should
spend a minimum of four hours and forty minutes
working with these materials to cover all five levels
and should follow the detailed guidelines on pages
9 – 12. Less time is needed to cover fewer levels and
information on the exact timing can be found in the
timetable on page 9.
After initial training, interlocutors should review these
materials at least once a year. If a period of more than
six months has elapsed since they last examined, they
should use the materials to refresh their skills before
each session of Skills for Life examining they
undertake.
A refresher session should take approximately an hour
per level. The timetable and guidelines for a refresher
session can be found on pages 15 – 17.
You should not use these materials too far in advance
of examining. Ideally you would do your training or
refresher session in the week before you are due to
examine.
Necessary Information for Interlocutors
During the session you should be aware of the
following aims:
(i) Interlocutors need to know:
– the format of the Speaking and Listening test
– how to conduct the test
– what types of materials are used
(ii) Interlocutors need specific practice in:
– using an interlocutor frame (adhering to a
script while speaking naturally)
– handling the Speaking and Listening test
materials (ensuring their security, being
familiar with them, handling them efficiently
and discreetly, using the CD player
efficiently)
– timing (adhering to prescribed timing in each
phase of the test)
– manner and level of involvement (providing
acceptable support while leaving candidates
space to complete tasks, not ‘feeding’
language to candidates)
– providing equal opportunities to candidates in
all respects
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