WELCOME TO YEAR 11.

By the end of this year you should achieve Standard B2 of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. This means you will reach (at least) upper-intermediate level in all 5 skills: Reading, Speaking, Listening, Writing and Interaction. Always refer to the YEAR PLAN for a quick glimpse of general objectives, skills and topics that will be dealt with.
Even if most of the tasks are to be done individually, you will be working within a group, in typically 3 or 4-week units followed by presentation and assessment week. Group work will be task-based.
Samples of your individual and group work will be collected in your portfolio. The portfolio is the key element in your assessment. Your portfolio should reflect how well you worked during the year. The three main areas for assessment will be: academic performance and progress, autonomy and responsibility, cooperation.
By January/February you’ll take an ‘exam’ at FCE level (90’+90’) as preparation for the final ‘exam’ in May/June. Both your portfolio and this exam will lead to your final grade.
All in all, your initiative, your suggestions and your collaboration will make things more interesting and meaningful to you, your colleagues and the teacher.

GROUP WORK
Aims:
Each member of the group has two responsibilities:
1) learn the assigned material
2) ensure that all members of the group learn the assigned material

How roles
Each member of the group will perform, in rotation, different but interconnected roles that specify responsibilities the group needs in order to complete the joint task.
Examples: reader, recorder, checker of understanding, encourager of participation, elaborator of knowledge, peer observer.

Objectives and Materials
There will be a set of compulsory objectives that everyone will have to achieve both individually and as a group. Likewise, there will be a set of materials from different sources that all will have to tackle. Typical sources will be all sorts of books (fiction, non-fiction, art, grammars), newspapers, films and documentaries, etc. both online and in print.
You will have to define a sub-set of aims specific to you and/or your group. You are welcome to research and bring your own materials.

Documentation
All (group) work must be documented and all evidence assembled (in print or, preferably, online). This includes a Log/Learning Journal (group entries as well as individual ones) as a form of group processing (reflection). Typical entries will describe what member actions were helpful and unhelpful, illustrate group events, and explain decisions about what actions to continue or change. A PC may be available for each group, each lesson, but groups will have to organize its collection.

Tasks
All assignments will be project-like. Materials will be selected and designed in order to lead the group to a final task that will involve all skills. The group may propose a new alternative task. Tasks will be presented to the class (or other audiences), but time constraints may determine that not all groups will present their work all the time.

Assessment:
There will be:
1) A group grade for the overall production of the group, including the Log/Learning Journal.
2) An individual grade resulting from tests (written, aural/oral, interaction)


I wish you a successful school year and the best results.