COURSES DETAILS

Syllabus content – skills and understanding

Aims

The aims describe the purposes of a course based on this syllabus.

The aims are to enable students to:

• read a wide range of texts, fluently and with good understanding, enjoying and appreciating a variety of language

• read critically, and use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing

• write accurately and effectively, using Standard English appropriately

• work with information and with ideas in language by developing skills of evaluation, analysis, use and inference

• listen to, understand, and use spoken language effectively

• acquire and apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology and linguistic conventions.

During your Cambridge IGCSE First Language English course you will need to:

• develop your ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively when speaking and writing

• learn how to use a wide range of vocabulary, and the correct grammar, spelling and punctuation

• develop your personal style of writing and speaking, as well as your awareness of the audience you are addressing.

You can think of your Cambridge IGCSE First Language English course as having three main areas of skills and understanding:

• Reading

• Writing

• Speaking and listening.

Here is an outline of the skills you should aim to have developed by the end of your course.

Reading

 You need to be able to:

R1 demonstrate understanding of explicit meanings

R2 demonstrate understanding of implicit meanings and attitudes

R3 analyse, evaluate and develop facts, ideas and opinions, using appropriate support from the text

R4 demonstrate understanding of how writers achieve effects and influence readers

R5 select and use information for specific purposes

Writing

 You need to be able to:

W1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

W2 organise and structure ideas and opinions for deliberate effect

W3 use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures appropriate to context

W4 use register appropriate to context

W5 make accurate use of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Speaking and listening

 You need to be able to:

SL1 articulate experience and express what is thought, felt and imagined

SL2 present facts, ideas and opinions in a cohesive order which sustains the audience’s interest

SL3 communicate clearly and purposefully using fluent language

SL4 use register appropriate to context

SL5 listen and respond appropriately in conversation.

Components at a glance

The table below gives you further information about each of the components.