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Matura Booster

Age: 16+            Level: B2/B2+

Suitability

This course is designed to support students as they prepare for the Matura exam. Whether they are just starting out with their Matura studies, or are only a few weeks away from the exam, this course can be tailored to suit the level and needs of each individual group.

The programme can also be tailored to cater for school leaving exams in countries other than Austria or for international English examinations at B2 level such as the Cambridge First Certificate exam.

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Sample end-of-course ‘can do’ statements

• Engage in conversation spontaneously using intonation naturally to convey interest and emotion, even on complex topics
• Express various points of view fluently, effectively and accurately on a range of topic, linking ideas together clearly with a range of discourse markers
• Help to progress a conversation using appropriate language such as turn taking phrases to speak, and move from one topic to another
• Use back-channeling phrases, language of clarification and non-verbal communication to show active listening
• Recognise and use intonation to express subtleties of meaning
• Employ coping strategies when you are unsure of or don’t know the word you want to use
• Produce and deliver a presentations highlighting relevant detail and sign-posting
• Respond to confidently and fluently to audience questions
• Engage in problem solving tasks, weighing up advantages and disadvantages and moving discussion towards a decision
• Use stalling techniques to field questions confidently
• I can listen and read for gist, or identify and record specific information*
• I can plan, edit and structure a written response to a set task*
• I can prepare and deliver an effective presentation*

*Depending on option modules chosen

Why choose this course?

School leaving examinations are some of the most important assessments that students will have to undertake. For many students they will affect career prospects; for others the options for further study.

This course provides practice in key areas, giving students practical strategies for optimizing their performance. The core modules focus on a range of speaking skills and strategies and deal with many of the everyday topics and current issues that may come up in the exam. The optional modules allow you to adapt the course to focus on the skill areas where your class needs most help.

Learning activities can include

• Conversation mingles activities
• Group planning and decision-making tasks
• Observing non-verbal communication experiment
• Conversation analysis and extension tasks
• Brainstorming strategies and techniques
• Games to practice techniques
• Debates on political or social issues
• Discover the difference pair challenges
• Circles discussions
• Surveys
• Team problem-solving tasks
• Timed speaking practice
• Storytelling – a personal anecdote
• Self-reflection activities on speaking
• Error correction and feedback

SAMPLE MATURA BOOSTER LESSONS

CORE MODULES (Compulsory)

• Making conversation
• Moral Dilemmas
• Wedding Planners
• Communicating without words
• Talking Points
• Games and Tasks
• What’s the Word?
• Political Debate 1 & 2
• Let me Explain
• Teenage Survey
• The Tallest Structure
• Speak for a Minute
• Storytelling
• Reflection & Review

OPTION MODULES (Choose three)

1. Oral Exam Practice (Single, Double or Triple Module)
   In this module learners will practice of monologues and dialogues in the format of the oral exam. The sessions will familiarise students with the exam experience, revise good conversational practice and cover key language for picture descriptions and discussions. This can be taken as a single, double or triple module.


2. Listening Skills and Exam Strategies
   In this module learners will practice a range of listening exam tasks and develop strategies for how best to approach them in order to maximise results. The sessions will also focus on skills such a listening for main points or specific details, using contextual clues, identifying speaker’s attitude or mood, understanding different accents and coping with background noise.


3. ‘English in Use’: Language Awareness and Exam Strategies
   In the module learners will practice a range of exam tasks designed to test their lexical and grammatical awareness and learn strategies for how to approach them in order to get the best results. In the sessions, key areas of language such as collocations, phrasal verbs, word formation, tenses and relative clauses will be covered.


4. Writing Skills and Exam Strategies
   In this module learners will work on key skills such as planning and editing, structuring paragraphs and effective use of cohesive devices. In the sessions, learners will work individually and in groups on an argumentative essay, plus their own choice of genre including letters, articles, reports or narratives.


5. Reading Skills and Exam Strategies
   In this module learners will practise important reading skills and strategies, from skimming and scanning, to guessing the meaning of the word from the context and identifying the attitude of the writer. The session will include reading in a number of genres including essays, literature and newspaper reports.


6. Discussions and Vocabulary Building (Single or Double Module)
   This module builds on core modules, giving further opportunities for speaking practice with a focus on important oral skills. The module can be tailored to your own topic list, so learners can build their vocabulary in the most relevant areas for them. This can be a single or double module.


7. Preparing and delivering a presentation (Workshop)
   This workshop module gives learners the option of developing their presentations skills in a real context. Learner produce individual or group presentations based either on topics already selected and researched, or new topic relevant to the syllabus. Presentations will be delivered to their peers, teacher and even parents, in the last lesson of the week.


8. Preparing and conducting a debate (Workshop)
   In this module students will work in groups, researching and preparing arguments for a formal debate to be held on the last day of the course.


9. Project work (Workshop)
   In this module students will work in groups on a project task of their choosing. This can include tasks such as making a film, creating and English magazine or website, designing an advertising campaign, or setting up an imaginary company. The students can display and present their project work on the final day of the course.


10. Preparing and performing drama sketches (Workshop)
    In this module students work in small teams or in one large team to create a short play, or a series of sketches. Whether students choose something funny or serious, through drama they will utilise new language ina highly motivating context which is a great boost to their confidence. The sketches can be performed to audience of students, teachers and even parents on the final day of the course.

MATURA BOOSTER – EXAMPLE PROGRAMME OF STUDY