Key Word Transformation (FCE)

Activity title:

Key Word Transformation

2

Skill(s):

paraphrasing

3

Level(s):

B2

4

Exam part:

Reading and Use of English. Part 4

5

Aim(s):

The exercise is designed to develop transformation skills. The focus is made on both lexical and grammatical aspects. Knowledge of a range of structures is tested as well.

6

Materials needed:

An exercise in the FCE format.

7

Preparation:

A projector, paper handouts.

8

Procedure:

Part I. Presentation - the theory of Key Word Transformation and instructions

Step 1. Students read and analyze the lead-in sentence.

Step 2. Students examine the key word. Remember that it must not be transformed.

Step 3. Students define what kind of transformation will be suitable in the sentence.

Step 4. Students write a new construction.

Step 5. Students read the net sentence to check if it makes sense.

Step 6. Students write the answer in the exam paper. Remember that the only transformed words must be written as an answer.

Part II. Practice

Exercise 1.

1. Unless you leave now, you'll miss the train.

IF

You'll miss the train _____________ now.

2. Give me your address, as I might visit Barcelona.

CASE

Give me your address _____________ visit Barcelona.

3. I always watch the late-night news on TV.

NEVER

I _______________ the late-night news on TV.

4. George didn't get much sleep last night as usual.

HARDLY

Last night George _______________ as usual.

5. His parents were travelling in the desert so they couldn't follow the news.

KEEP

His parents were travelling in the desert so they weren't ________ the news.

Exercise 2.

1. Adam can't wait to go snowboarding next week.

FORWARD

Adam-s really ____________ snowboarding next week.

2. What's your uncle's job?

FOR

What _______________ a living?

3. I'm sure Rafael Nadal earned a lot of for that car advertisement.

BEEN

Rafael Nadal ________ a lot for that car advertisement.

4. The candidate couldn't register for the election because he missed the deadline.

ABLE

If the candidate hadn't missed the deadline, he _______________ register for the election.

5. I was really impressed by the images in the advert.

MADE

The images in the advert really __________ me.

Part III. Product

A teacher asks students to compose their own tasks on the topic themselves.

9

Variation(s)

This plan can be transformed for the Speaking or Writing Part of the FCE.

10

Reflections

In the end of the class there are questions to be discussed:

6. What did you know?

7. What was new for you?

8. What was easy / obvious?

9. What was challenging?

10. What would you like to add to the material?

11. What should be discussed at the next lesson?

Depending on the answers topics for revision and drilling are determined. It's clear that the ability to express a message in a different way shows flexibility and resource in the use of language. The skill of paraphrasing should be developed.