Preface

The given manual is designed for the students of non-linguistic majors, who desire to master a foreign language during the period of study at the university. English language learning at non-linguistic departments makes the methodology of level education, oriented to formation of practical foreign language communicative skills very topical.Nowadays the educational institutions of the Republic of Kazakhstan have a definite experience of level teaching to English language which is divided into 6 levels of foreign language proficiency: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 (Concept of foreign language education of the Republic Kazakhstan, 2007), accepted on the basis of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and adapted to the stages of national system of education.

According to the concept of foreign language education a teaching to foreign language at non-linguistic majors should cover the levels of B1, B2 and the courses of LSP (language for specific purpose program) and LAP (Language for Academic Purpose). However this model of foreign language education doesn’t correspond to real practice of students’ foreign language knowledge and skills, as by the moment of entering the university not all students master a foreign language at the level of A2. Many students come with the level A1 and sometimes with zero level of foreign language proficiency, but very eager to master it during their study at university.

That’s why an author’s group edited by professor A.A. Kussainov on the basis of lasting and reach experience of teaching foreign language at non-linguistic departments, taking into account the achievements of the native and foreign scholars and methodologists in this field, and it’s own experimental work on language knowledge and skills assessment (Universal criteria of complex assessment of English language proficiency, 2008) suggests to single out 5 levels of language proficiency instead of 6 levels, expressed in percent measurement from 0% to 100% :

1. Elementary, which comprises also an introduction course for Beginners - А1-А2: from 0 to 20 %;

2. Pre-Intermediate - А2-В1: from 21to 40%;

3. Intermediate - В1-В2: from 41to 60%;

4. Upper-Intermediate - В2-С1: from 61 to 80%;

5. Advanced - С1-С2: from 81 to 100%.

Such subdivision into levels of practical English language proficiency allows to provide a systematic and indissoluble character, a sequence of foreign language learning at non-linguistic majors, compensate the faults of teaching to foreign language in schools and gives to students new opportunities to fill in the gaps in foreign language knowledge and skills.

Universal criteria of complex assessment of English language proficiency on above mentioned 5 levels presents a combined form of examination, including the assessment of theoretical knowledge of language (multiple choice test of grammar and lexis) and practical skills of communication (listening, speaking, reading and writing activities), providing an exactness, objectivity and transparency of the process of assessment.

Following the logics of improving the system of teaching English language the author group put forward an aim to develop a linguistic complex for each level of English learning at non-linguistic majors, which comprises not only the materials of control and assessment as it was done in Universal criteria of complex assessment of English language proficiency (2008), but also the materials of study in the class and materials for students’ independent work after classes. That is why all material of manual is systematized from the point of its practical, communicative importance for the students of non-linguistic majors, on the basis of accessibility and sequence of stating, and the theory, concerning grammar is presented in doses and in minimum volume, and in such way paying more attention to the principle parts in English language learning. With it all the content of manual covers all aspects of learning foreign language: linguistic (phonetics, grammar, lexis), regional (Kazakhstani, British, American and other English speaking countries) and intercultural (differences in verbal and non-verbal communication) aspects.

So, this manual consists of three parts: Universal criteria of complex assessment of English language proficiency, collection of handouts on 30 lexicaland grammar themes on each level, and a collection of tests and lexical materials, designed for independent work of students after classes and preparation for examination.

The first part is dedicated to updating and reediting Universal criteria of complex assessment of English language proficiency (2008) in accordance with changes of content and methodology of teaching and needs for developing students’ communicative skills and habits at non-linguistic majors.

The second part - collection of handouts was made up in accordance with four speech activities: listening, speaking, reading and writing, paying more attention to formation of speaking skills. The topics of handouts correspond to the needs of Kazakhstani curriculum, syllabus and modern international requirements. As a contribution to the content of study a foreign language we have included the lexical topics, reflecting the culture, the way of life in the Republick of Kazakhstan.

The third part– a collection of tests and lexical materials consists of bank of lexical and grammar tests (120 multiple choice assignments for each level), bank of texts for listening and reading practice (30 texts and 30 poems on each of them), bank of tasks for speaking and writing practice.

At the end of the third part we placed additional materials where you can find the information about the main Kazakh national traditions and customs, samples of congratulations and condolences, proverbs and sayings, quotations, the list of widely used phrasal verbs, samples of writing business letters. We also presented a collection of English texts for specific purpose on different specialties at university but only for students of Intermediate, Upper-intermediate and Advanced levels. So, the content of this manual is composed on the basis of authentic resources, giving an opportunity to learn a real English language, using the communicative and interactive techniques of teaching and also developing the students’ skills of independent work in mastering a foreign language.