Unit 4 Online Flashcards
*** the cat example
It is fairly easy to infer certain missing words using our knowledge of the world. For example, we know that cats sometimes have a habit of climbing trees and then struggle to climb down. Other information can be inferred from our familiarity with similar kinds of message. For example, ‘I’ll let you know if …’ is typically followed by things like ‘I hear anything’ or ‘I get any news’, or something similar. However, entirely new information cannot be inferred. For example, we do not know who saw the cat after Jane, or into whose garden she disappeared after crossing Chillingham Road, which would have been the most useful piece of information in the entire voicemail message.
This activity shares some similarities with the way in which learners of a foreign language experience listening. You can only infer successfully if you have managed to get enough clues from the sections that you are able to hear or understand. If there are too many gaps (e.g. you cannot recognise enough words in the foreign language) you will not be able to figure out the rest of the meaning.
It’s not all about identifying words
identifying words is only one part of the process. We draw a wealth of information from intonation, voice quality and prior knowledge
Things we can get from listening (squirrel and tree)
The most obvious difference between the recordings is the intonation. While screen readers can be programmed to use pauses and inflection when they encounter a full stop or a comma, they treat all full stops and all commas in an identical manner. Conversely, the human voice uses a much wider pitch range, which can be adjusted to suit the meaning of each sentence. The human voice also carries emotion, partly through intonation and partly through the sound of the voice itself. The human reader signposts very clearly every time she switches from one character to the other, something that an electronic screen reader is not very good at. Furthermore, if you answered the question after listening to the first clip, you already knew that this was a conversation between a squirrel and a tree, and this prior knowledge should make the second clip easier to understand.
What is CEFR, who created it and what’s its purpose?
-A set of evaluation scales known as the ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’ (CEFR).
-It’s also known as ‘The Common Framework’
-was developed by the Council of Europe between 1989 and 1996
-Its purpose was to provide a standard system for describing a person’s language competence in a standard way that could be understood by employers and teaching institutions in any European country
-The CEFR is now widely used even outside Europe
What is ‘European Language Passport’
-Also called Europass
-a self-evaluation tool that you can use in order to track your progress and build up a personal portfolio for potential employers.
-is based on a set of evaluation scales known as the ‘Common European Framework of Reference for Languages’ (CEFR).
What is the council of europe
The Council of Europe is the continent’s leading human rights organisation. It includes 46 member states, 27 of which are members of the European Union.
The Council of Europe helps member states fight corruption and terrorism and undertake necessary judicial reforms. Its group of constitutional experts, known as the Venice Commission, offers legal advice to countries throughout the world.
What three bands does The Common Framework comprises?
Basic (A)
Independent (B)
Proficient user (C)
each of them subdivided into two levels as shown below
A Basic user
A1 Breakthrough or beginner
A2 Waystage or elementary
B Independent user
B1 Threshold or intermediate
B2 Vantage or upper intermediate
C Proficient user
C1 Effective operational proficiency or advanced
C2 Mastery or proficiency
Why is Europass useful?
Evaluating your language skills at regular intervals helps you to keep track of your progress and set more ambitious goals as your confidence and proficiency increase. It also helps you to decide what skills need most attention at a particular time. Keeping your language portfolio up to date is particularly useful when writing CVs and job applications, as it enables you to articulate your skills in a clear and convincing way.
