English I (A2/B1) – 30-Week Course Outline
📖 Focus: Progressing from A1/A2 to a comfortable B1 level in English, preparing students for academic subjects and the Cambridge A2 exam while targeting B1 proficiency and certification.
Course Structure
- 1-hour weekly grammar and exam-focused session with a Cambridge-exam expert (former examiner).
- 1-hour weekly conversation session with a native speaker, focusing on oral fluency.
- 2 to 4 hours of private study per week, including reading, writing, listening practice, and vocabulary building.
- Course coordinator: Lisa Sullivan, Principal of USA Heritage Academy , former headteacher in the Florida public school system. Instructors: Tetania Kravets, Patrick Long, John Fortescue, Simon Miller, Jane Fogarty.
Unit 1: Foundations & Confidence in English (Weeks 1-5)
📖 Goal: Build core grammar, vocabulary, and fluency for everyday situations.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- Present simple & continuous, past simple & continuous.
- Subject-verb agreement, forming questions and negatives.
- Writing simple personal emails and messages.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Introducing yourself, giving personal details.
- Describing routines, hobbies, and daily life.
- Understanding basic conversations and short news clips.
Unit 2: Expanding Grammar & Communication (Weeks 6-10)
📖 Goal: Improve accuracy and confidence in everyday and academic English.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- Future tenses (going to, will, present continuous for future).
- Comparatives and superlatives, making descriptions more detailed.
- Writing simple narratives and descriptions.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Talking about plans, preferences, and giving opinions.
- Ordering food, shopping, asking for directions.
- Engaging in short dialogues and interviews.
Unit 3: Moving Towards B1 – Expressing Ideas Clearly (Weeks 11-15)
📖 Goal: Improve fluency in speaking and writing for real-world and academic contexts.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- Modal verbs (can, must, should, have to) for advice and obligation.
- Past perfect & linking words for complex sentences.
- Writing short opinion pieces and emails.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Talking about experiences and giving short presentations.
- Expressing opinions politely, agreeing and disagreeing.
- Listening to real-life conversations and short presentations.
Unit 4: B1 Level – Academic & Practical English (Weeks 16-20)
📖 Goal: Strengthen grammar, fluency, and comprehension for academic and real-life settings.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- First & second conditionals, passive voice.
- Writing formal letters, simple reports, and structured essays.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Discussing past experiences and future ambitions.
- Listening to longer discussions and summarizing key points.
- Role-plays and real-world conversation practice.
Unit 5: Exam Preparation & Beyond B1 (Weeks 21-26)
📖 Goal: Ensure students are well-prepared for the Cambridge A2 exam while consolidating B1-level skills.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- Reported speech, phrasal verbs, and complex sentence structures.
- Writing problem-solving texts, opinion essays, and narratives.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Engaging in debates, storytelling, and presentations.
- Understanding different accents and fast speech.
Unit 6: Review, Personal Expression & Final Assessments (Weeks 27-30)
📖 Goal: Final fluency development and preparation for next-level English courses.
- Grammar & Writing Focus:
- Reviewing key structures, refining writing skills.
- Writing extended essays, reflections, and creative pieces.
- Speaking & Listening Focus:
- Expressing thoughts clearly in academic and informal settings.
- Final speaking tests, interviews, and fluency exercises.
Expected Outcomes:
✅ Students will comfortably handle everyday and academic communication at B1 level.
✅ They will be ready for the Cambridge A2 exam and beyond. If desired, they would be able to take the A2 exam and obtain a B1 certification.
✅ They will develop oral fluency, confidence, and strong grammar skills.
USA Heritage Academy 