Cambridge CELTA: pre-interview tasks
Surname / First name:
E-Mail:
Course:
Phone:
Date:
Decision:
There are two parts to this task: Part One is a language awareness & analysis task; Part Two is an extended writing
task. The purposes of the tasks are: to form part of the selection process, and to give you an idea of the nature of
some aspects of a CELTA course. We are not looking for perfection in your completed answers, by the way.
For Part One, you may want to refer to grammar or usage books, and we recommend that you do so when necessary;
some suggestions are:
Swan Practical English Usage; Basic English Usage; How English Works (OUP)
Eastwood Oxford Guide to English Grammar (OUP)
Leech
An A-Z of English Usage (Longman)
Once you have completed the task please send it to:
TLC International House Zurich-Baden
Stephanie van Toorn
CELTA Pre-Interview Task
Bahnhofstrasse 44
5400 Baden
When we have evaluated this task, you will be offered an interview date.
Part One: Language Awareness & Analysis
Please write your answers to Part One in the spaces provided. Use the reverse side of the sheet if you need more
space. Wherever you choose to use a reference book to help you answer a part of this task, please provide the
author, title and page number as appropriate.
I certify that the completed task is my own work:
Signature
1. Verb forms
Write a short example sentence for each of the following verb forms. Underline the form, like this: present simple
She works as a German teacher.
1.1 present continuous/progressive
1.2 present perfect
1.3 present perfect continuous/progressive
TLC International House Zurich-Baden I Bahnhofstrasse 44 I 5400 Baden I [email protected] I www.ihbaden.ch I 056 205 51 78
1.4 past continuous/progressive
1.5 past perfect
1.6 past perfect continuous/progressive
2. Different future forms
List three different forms that can be used to express a future idea, and also write a short example sentence for each
one, like this:
will form, used for predictions eg Tomorrow will be warm and sunny...
2.1
2.2
2.3
3. Other verb forms and constructions
3.1 Give five examples of modal auxiliary verbs:
3.2 Write an example of a conditional sentence that refers to the past.
3.3 Rewrite this sentence so that the verb form is passive:
They are building a new bridge across the Thames.
3.4 What is the main difference between a transitive verb and an intransitive verb?
4. Nouns, adjectives etc
4.1 Give four examples of countable nouns, and four examples of uncountable nouns
4.2 What is the difference (if any) between these pairs of sentences?
4.2.1 Would you like some wine? / Would you like any wine?
4.2.2 I don’t like some vegetables. / I don’t like any vegetables.
4.2.3 She’s got a few friends. / She’s got few friends.
4.2.4 The students, who were lazy, failed the exam. / The students who were lazy failed the exam
5. Functions
Identify the function of the following sentences, like this:
Would you like a cup of coffee? = an offer
5.1 If you help me with my tax return, I’ll take you out for dinner.
5.2 If you touch that wire, you’ll get a shock.
5.3 If you say that again, I’ll hit you!
5.4 How about going to Greece this year for a change?
5.5 Could you close the door please?
5.6 Waiter, this meat isn’t cooked properly.
6. Review
Complete the following sentences:
6.1 Continuous/progressive forms are constructed using the auxiliary verb ……………… and the ……………. participle.
6.2 Perfect forms are constructed using the auxiliary verb ……………. and the ……………….. participle.
6.3 Passive forms are constructed using the auxiliary verb …………… and the ……………… participle.
7. Pronunciation
Say these words and then mark where the main stress falls, like this: November
hotel
Japanese
application
photographer
develop
apply
American
photograph
developmental
career
enter
regret
impressive
probability
Japan
Now say the sentence below: what differences in meaning can be expressed by stressing different words? Give
details below or on the reverse side of this sheet.
John didn’t send me a letter from the States.
8. Vocabulary
An intermediate learner asks you to explain the difference in meaning between the following pairs of words. What
would you say to her or him?
8.1 thin / skinny
8.2 win / beat
8.3 old / elderly
8.4 economic / economical
8.5 look into / investigate (a problem etc)
8.6 satisfying / satisfactory
9. Proof reading task
Read the following paragraph: highlight any corrections that are necessary, and write the correct version in the box
on the right. Also comment on any inconsistencies (of style, language, organisation etc) that you find: use the reverse
side of the sheet for this.
It may seem a little ridiculous to think, that people deliberatly buy imitations. But, that is most
definatly true of costume jewellery from the 1930s what now sells for hundred’s of pounds and
increasingly popular in America and Europe. The term ‘costume jewellery’ is relatively new, but
such jewelry has been around since the people first decorated themselves with bones and
shells. The Romans, in particular took delight in making imitation jewells from glass and
ceramics and combine them with valueable stones. The eighteenth century saw an improvment
with the arrival of hand cut-glass, now refered to as paste’.
Besides, the realy exiting revolution in costume jewellery is attributed to french designer
Coco Chanel, who turned away from pure imitation off previous designs in favour of
jewellery made to be valued in it’s own right. She even accomodated plastics in her
designs, producing colors and shapes never seen before. A few years ago, her pieces could
of been brought relativley cheaply, now they are in great demand and consequently
extremely expensive. No way your ever going to find one in a fleamarket!
Part Two
You work for a multi-national company which recently sent you on a one-month business English course. On
your return, you have to submit a report on the course to the Director of Training and make a recommendation
as to whether or not your colleagues should be sent on a similar course at the same institution.
Read the documents below and then, using the information, write the report. Your report should be approximately
500 words long.
The documents are:
a) an advertisement for the school
b) an extract from a letter written to you by a friend on the course
c) a copy of the questionnaire you completed at the end of the course.
Excel Academy
Friendly school with year-round courses at all levels
 Business English our speciality
 Examination preparation
 Individual tuition on demand
 Accommodation in carefully selected host families
 Lively social programme
Further information available from:
[email protected]
Excel Academy
Pelham Square
Portchester
- and it really is good to be able to make use of some of those techniques we practised in the
How to Negotiate classes. I certainly feel more confident now. I’m meeting a lot of our clients
from Australia and South East Asia, and I’m never (well hardly ever) at a loss for words.
On the other hand, my employers weren’t too happy that I didn’t come back with an exam
certificate. They are so keen on qualifications and are complaining to the school about the
fact that I wasn’t entered for an exam. They won’t accept the school’s excuses about us all
arriving too late to enrol for the exam.
Student Questionnaire
The Excel Academy would be grateful if you would complete this questionnaire so that we can
continue to improve our courses.
Please put a tick in the appropriate column.
Good
Adequate
Needs Improvement
Section 1
Tuition
1. Grammar
2. Speaking skills
3. Listening skills
4. Writing skills
5. Special courses
6. Teaching staff
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Section 2
Facilities
1. Student Study centre
2. Computer room
3. Canteen
4. Classroom
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Section 3
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Social programme
Section 4
Accpmmod
See below
Any additional comments:
More individual tuition? Teacher never available when needed. No social programme – found own friends.
Kind and helpful host family – but four miles from school! Transport a problem. Thank goodness for friends
with cars! Pity we couldn’t
©UCLES