Online English School
Intermediate ESL (Levels 4 and 5) Course Outline
Week 1: Advanced Introductions and Small Talk
Topics:
- Introducing yourself in professional and casual contexts
- Mastering small talk and active listening strategies
- Sharing opinions and personal experiences
Grammar Focus:
Complex Sentences with Relative Clauses (e.g., "The person who gave the speech is a professor.")
Present Perfect Continuous (e.g., "I have been learning English for five years.")
Vocabulary:
Professional greetings (e.g., "It's a pleasure to meet you.")
Transition phrases for opinions (e.g., "In my opinion...", "I believe that...")
Week 2: Academic and Professional Communication
Topics:
- Writing formal emails and letters
- Understanding professional tone and style
- Analyzing short academic texts
Grammar Focus:
Passive Voice in Formal Writing (e.g., "The report was submitted on time.")
Conditional Sentences (Type 2 and 3) (e.g., "If I had known, I would have attended.")
Vocabulary:
Formal email phrases (e.g., "I would like to inquire about...")
Academic terms (e.g., "analyze," "interpret," "evaluate")
Week 3: Complex Narratives and Storytelling
Topics:
- Telling engaging personal or professional stories
- Describing events in detail using advanced vocabulary
- Understanding and using idiomatic expressions in storytelling
Grammar Focus:
Narrative Tenses (e.g., "I had been waiting when he arrived.")
Reported Speech (e.g., "He said he had finished the project.")
Vocabulary:
Idioms and expressions (e.g., "hit the nail on the head," "once in a blue moon")
Descriptive adjectives and adverbs (e.g., "meticulous," "abruptly")
Week 4: Persuasive Language and Debates
Topics:
- Expressing and defending opinions persuasively
- Understanding counterarguments and rebuttals
- Engaging in debates about current issues
Grammar Focus:
Modal Verbs for Certainty and Possibility (e.g., "This must be true.", "It might happen.")
Subjunctive Mood (e.g., "It is essential that he attend the meeting.")
Vocabulary:
Persuasive phrases (e.g., "I strongly believe that...", "It is undeniable that...")
Debate terms (e.g., "stance," "counterpoint")
Week 5: Advanced Reading and Analysis
Topics:
- Interpreting news articles and editorials
- Summarizing key points and identifying biases
- Analyzing persuasive techniques in writing
Grammar Focus:
Complex Sentences with Conjunctions (e.g., "Although the evidence was clear, they continued to argue.")
Collocations in Academic Writing (e.g., "make a decision," "conduct research")
Vocabulary:
Critical analysis terms (e.g., "bias", "perspective", "context")
Academic collocations
Week 6: Cultural Awareness and Social Topics
Topics:
- Discussing cultural norms and traditions
- Exploring global social issues
- Comparing and contrasting cultures
Grammar Focus:
Comparative Structures (e.g., "The traditions are more elaborate than ours.")
Conditionals for Hypothetical Comparisons (e.g., "If they celebrated differently, it might affect participation.")
Vocabulary:
Cultural terms (e.g., "customs," "heritage," "diversity")
Social issue phrases (e.g., "human rights," "sustainability")
Week 7: Advanced Workplace Skills
Topics:
- Handling conflict and negotiations
- Delivering presentations and reports
- Understanding workplace hierarchies and dynamics
Grammar Focus:
Phrasal Verbs in Business (e.g., "bring up," "follow through")
Indirect Questions (e.g., "Could you explain what the problem is?")
Vocabulary:
Workplace terms (e.g., "stakeholder," "deadline," "feedback")
Negotiation phrases (e.g., "Let's find a middle ground.")
Week 8: Media and Technology
Topics:
- Analyzing advertisements and their strategies
- Discussing the impact of social media
- Using technology for productivity
Grammar Focus:
Gerunds and Infinitives (e.g., "I enjoy reading about technology.")
Relative Clauses for Description (e.g., "The app that I use the most is...")
Vocabulary:
Technology terms (e.g., "algorithm," "interface")
Media phrases (e.g., "target audience," "viral content")
Week 9: Advanced Problem-Solving
Topics:
- Discussing and resolving hypothetical scenarios
- Analyzing problem-solving techniques
- Collaborative group discussions
Grammar Focus:
Mixed Conditionals (e.g., "If I had studied, I would be passing now.")
Modal Verbs for Speculation (e.g., "He might have forgotten.")
Vocabulary:
Problem-solving terms (e.g., "evaluate," "implement")
Phrases for collaboration (e.g., "Let's brainstorm ideas.")
Week 10: Final Review and Practical Applications
Topics:
- Practicing complex conversations in various contexts
- Role-playing real-life scenarios (meetings, interviews, presentations)
- Final assessment and feedback
Grammar Focus:
Review of all key grammar points
Advanced Punctuation (e.g., semicolons, colons)
Vocabulary:
Review of essential terms and expressions from the course
Context-specific vocabulary based on student needs
Course Features
Vocabulary Growth: Expand knowledge with professional and academic terms.
Real-World Focus: Students practice advanced communication for work, study, and social situations.
Grammar Mastery: Learn complex structures like passive voice and mixed conditionals.
Interactive Practice: Role-plays, debates, and problem-solving develop speaking skills.
Critical Thinking: Analyze texts, media, and persuasive arguments.
Personalized Feedback: Weekly assessments help track progress and apply learning.xa