LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL Grammar Syllabus
The LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL Grammar Syllabus provides a comprehensive framework for teaching English grammar to young learners at Pre-A1 and A1 proficiency levels. It systematically outlines essential linguistic components, from foundational sentence construction and verb tenses to various parts of speech and discourse elements. This structured approach ensures a progressive and age-appropriate learning journey, building critical language skills necessary for effective communication and future academic success.
Key Takeaways
Syllabus details grammar for LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL exams.
Covers foundational Pre-A1 grammar, including basic sentence structures.
Progresses to A1 level, introducing past tenses and comparative forms.
Emphasizes practical application of grammar for effective communication.
Includes essential elements like parts of speech and discourse markers.
What grammar points are covered in LanguageCert Pre-A1 for young learners?
The LanguageCert Pre-A1 grammar syllabus introduces young learners to fundamental English language structures, laying the essential groundwork for basic communication and comprehension. This initial level meticulously focuses on building simple sentences, understanding core verb forms, and recognizing essential parts of speech. Learners acquire the ability to construct positive and negative statements, formulate simple questions, and effectively use common modals like 'can' for expressing ability and making polite requests. The curriculum also emphasizes basic vocabulary related to nouns, pronouns, and prepositions, alongside early literacy skills such as punctuation and correct spelling. This foundational stage ensures children develop confidence in expressing simple ideas and understanding basic English.
- Sentence Structure: Learn to form simple positive and negative statements, understand basic instructions, and construct yes/no and Wh-questions. Also covers 'There is/are' for existence, 'Have + object + infinitive' for actions, and 'Let's...' for suggestions.
- Verb Forms: Master the Present Simple for routines and facts, and the Present Continuous for ongoing actions, including positive, negative, question forms, and short answers. Also introduces 'Like + -ing' to express preferences.
- Modals: Understand 'Can/Can't' to express ability, 'Can' for requests and permission, 'Have got' to indicate possession, and 'Would like + noun/verb' for expressing desires or offers.
- Nouns: Differentiate between regular and irregular plural nouns, identify countable and uncountable nouns, recognize -ing forms used as nouns, and correctly use proper nouns (names).
- Pronouns: Learn to use subject pronouns (I, you), object pronouns (me, him), possessive pronouns (mine, yours), demonstrative pronouns (this, that), interrogative pronouns (who, what), and the indefinite pronoun 'one.'
- Possessives: Apply possessive adjectives (my, your) and possessive pronouns (mine, yours) to show ownership and relationships.
- Prepositions: Understand and use prepositions of place (e.g., in, on, under, behind, between, next to) and prepositions of time (e.g., in, on, at) for location and temporal reference.
- Determiners: Correctly use the definite article 'the' and indefinite articles 'a, an.' Also introduces other determiners like 'some,' 'a lot of,' 'many,' 'that,' and 'these' for quantity and specificity.
- Adjectives: Learn the correct position of adjectives, placing them before nouns (e.g., a big house) or after the verb 'to be' (e.g., The house is big).
- Adverbs: Understand and use adverbs of place (e.g., here, there) and adverbs of time (e.g., now, yesterday) to provide more information about actions.
- Miscellaneous Structures: Recognize and use cardinal numbers from 1 to 20, and learn to tell the time accurately on the hour (e.g., three o'clock).
- Discourse: Connect ideas using linking words such as 'and,' 'or,' and 'but.' Also introduces simple sentence connectors like 'then,' and practices interacting in spoken discourse through basic greetings and simple exchanges.
- Punctuation & Spelling: Develop recognition of upper and lowercase letters, practice correct spelling of common words, and learn the proper use of capital letters, full stops, and question marks in writing.
What advanced grammar concepts are included in the LanguageCert A1 syllabus?
The LanguageCert A1 grammar syllabus significantly builds upon the foundational Pre-A1 level, introducing more complex linguistic structures crucial for young learners to expand their communicative abilities. At this stage, students begin to master the Past Simple tense for both regular and irregular verbs, enabling them to effectively discuss past events and experiences. The curriculum expands on modal verbs, incorporating 'could' for past ability, and 'must/mustn't' and 'have (got) to' for expressing obligation or necessity. Learners also explore comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs, enhancing their descriptive capabilities and allowing for more nuanced comparisons. Additionally, the A1 syllabus introduces a broader range of prepositions, conjunctions like 'because' and 'when', and more sophisticated discourse interactions, preparing them for richer and more varied communication scenarios.
- Sentence Structure: Learn to use 'Verb + Infinitive' (e.g., want to play), 'Verb + -ing' (e.g., enjoy reading), and the 'Infinitive of Purpose' (e.g., I went to the shop to buy milk). Also covers 'How/What about + noun/-ing' for making suggestions.
- Verb Forms: Master the Past Simple tense for both regular and irregular verbs, including positive, negative, question forms, and short answers, to describe completed actions in the past.
- Modals: Understand 'Could' for expressing past ability, 'Must/Mustn't' for strong obligation or prohibition, 'Have (got) to' for obligation, and 'Shall' for making offers or suggestions.
- Prepositions: Expand knowledge of prepositions to include more common prepositions of place (e.g., above, below, opposite, near), time (e.g., after, before, on), and movement (e.g., into, out of, around).
- Determiners: Learn to use 'the' with superlatives (e.g., the tallest), and other common determiners such as 'all,' 'another,' 'any,' 'both,' 'every,' 'more,' and 'most' for quantity and selection.
- Adjectives: Form and use comparative adjectives (e.g., bigger, more beautiful) and superlative adjectives (e.g., biggest, most beautiful) to compare three or more items.
- Adverbs: Understand and use adverbs of frequency (e.g., always, never, sometimes), adverbs of manner (e.g., badly, carefully, quickly), and their comparative and superlative forms.
- Miscellaneous Structures: Recognize and use cardinal numbers from 21 to 100, ordinal numbers from 1st to 20th, and learn to tell the time across its full range. Also introduces conjunctions like 'because' and 'when,' and sentence connectors such as 'next.'
- Discourse: Engage in more complex spoken exchanges, utilizing basic polite expressions and expanding conversational skills beyond simple interactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of the LanguageCert Young Learners ESOL Grammar Syllabus?
The syllabus primarily focuses on developing foundational English grammar skills for young learners, progressing from basic sentence structures at Pre-A1 to more complex forms at A1. It ensures a systematic, age-appropriate learning journey.
What are some key grammar areas covered in the Pre-A1 level?
Pre-A1 covers simple statements, questions, basic verb forms like Present Simple and Continuous, common modals such as 'can', and fundamental parts of speech including nouns, pronouns, and prepositions.
How does the A1 grammar level build upon the Pre-A1 foundation?
A1 introduces Past Simple tense, additional modals like 'must' and 'could', comparative/superlative adjectives and adverbs, and expands on prepositions and discourse elements for richer communication.
