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[Shroob]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has any website recommendations or tips on how to prepare students for the CET 6 exam. I've been asked to teach a class, especially focusing on the listening aspect of the test.

I've seen a CET 6 exam paper, and found the format a little strange. For example, during the listening section the exam didn't tell you the questions which would be asked until after the recording had played. There were multipule choice answers but no actual question. From my understanding the IELTS test shows you what questions will be asked.

Throughout my CELTA training I was told always set a task before listening, 'task before audio'. So I'm a little confused as to how to teach a listening class - should I stick to the exam's version eg. set questions after the task but give possible answers, or try and teach the way I was taught on the CELTA course?

Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

[Denim-Maniac]

Maybe this is of no real help...but I think what you need to do is find out exactly how the test is set, and replicate it as much as possible in the class room. I wouldnt teach the 'CELTA' way if this isnt the way they are likely to take the actual test.

Do they get to see the multiple choice answers before they listen? In the actual exam do they get a set time to read the multiple choice answers before they listen to the script? If so, this is like part of 'task' set before listening, in a 'what do these things refer to/prediction' type task...maybe?

I remember a long time ago looking at CET example papers (which students could buy for self study purposes) and teaching reading for gist and specific info (rather than focusing on word level), but Ive never done/encountered the listening tasks.

I do think the key is having students practice in the same way that the test is taken though. Good luck with it!

[MisterButtkins]

CET 6 is an abortion. Many of the words are downright useless. I have seen the students' word list and it contains entries like 'conjurer' and 'nascent' that most Americans don't even know. Many of the students with great English do not pass, and some students with very mediocre English do. Like all other Chinese government tests, it seems to have no relationship to any actual skill.

[Shroob]

[Denim-Maniac]

Then what I would do (assuming I had lots of listening scripts to use) is start the class with those multiple choice answers and have the students brainstorming possible questions, or even general ideas that might relate to the questions. Id probably give lots of time and get them in the habit of this brainstorming task. I wouldnt put them under real time constraints initially. I would do this as a whole group activity.

With lots of possible questions 'brainstormed', I would then go to the script/CD and listen to see how accurate they were. And then Id get them to listen again for the actual answers etc.

Gradually over a series of classes, I would reduce the time for the brainstorming section and make it more like actual test conditions. I would suggest its the brainstorming that they need practice in initially. After doing this type of task several times, it may become more natural for them, and give them a better chance of predicting gist/questions for the actual exam.

The students need to listen to lots of recordings too. Not just one over and over as that will focus them on individual word level IMO