C1

Notes in order to prepare for the C1 exam at the IDI.

• Grammar section
• Vocabulary section

Organization

0. 30 - 06 - 2022, green room.
1. Arrive at 8:45 at least.
2. Begin exam at 9:00. 30' for reading and listening (20' for reading, 10' for reading the listening).
3. 30' for listening, from 9:30 to 10:00.
4. From 10:10 to 11:00 continue the reading.
5. Break of 15' at 11:00.
6. From 11:15 105' for finishing the reading and doing the writing.
7. 13:00 the exam ends.

Reading

TODO: Complete me. Perhaps NOT.

Listening

One-shot

• There won't be any names.
• They like numbers.
• Si oigo algo que sé escribir aunque no tenga sentido lo escribo.

Writing

They value:

• Task completion (talking about the point).
• Organisation.
• Accuracy (not committing errors).
• Range of C1 structures and vocabulary.

Recommendations:

• 4 paragraphs.
• Making a mind map before beginning.
• The last point can be used as a conclussion.
• Idea to begin with: "There are always two sides to any situation. In the case of...".
• Never use "but,".

Article

• Subjective and personal.
• Talking about experience.
• $\frac{\text{serious + fun}}{2}$

Essay

• Objective point of view.
• Instead of "everybody knows", begin with "usually, It seems that".
• Speculation: Instead of "he is here", try "he must be here".

Letter of complaint

• Instead of "To whom may interest", use "The 3 Roses Restaurant\nManager", and:
  • "kind/best regards" or "yours, sencirely", if I know to whom I'm writing, or
  • "yours, faithfully", if not.

Speaking

• Take care of the clothing, avoiding things like this.
• Try the following:
  • Use used to/would (remember that the last can only be used with dynamic verbs)
  • I must highlight that...
  • I see your point, but...
  • Certainly, ...
  • In spite of / Despite being a common practice... / Despite the fact that it's a common practice...
  • You know that they say...
  • People who get used to living like that...
  • Inversion: Never have I heard / Not only do I think that --- but also that ---...
  • It's unlikely that...
  • It would seem / appear that...
  • Distancing expressions: apparantly, according to, may / might, claim.
  • Wish (or "If only" if enfatic) + Past simple (present) / Past perfect (regret the past)
  • I would rather / I
  • You didn't need to do that -> You needn’t do it
  • Mixed conditional: "Things wouldn't be like that if they had acted in some other way".
  • We are supposed to, at least, try.
  • I saw he hit the dog (whole action) VS I saw he hitting the dog (only part of the action).
  • "It seemed like a good idea at the time, but in fact it wasn't".
  • Something smells funny in this matter...
  • It will be an overwhelming problem if we don't do something now.
  • It's no use trying.
  • Things are about to change.
  • What happens is that...
  • They're to blame for what happened.
  • It was me who... (informal)
  • It's just a red herring.
  • They seem to be sympathetic, but the truth is that they...
  • They always made pledges not to raise taxes...
  • IN THIS TALK...
  • But as always there are two sides to everything / every story, and in this case...

TASK A: Monologue

• Duration: 15' for preparation + 3-4' for execution.
  • Never more that 4' for execution.
• Recommended organisation:
  1. Introduction
     • To start with, I'll... then I'll mention... after that I'll consider... Finally, I'll summarise my presentation / sum up with a personal reflection.
     • Present the topic.
     • Yes / No.
  2. Pros and cons
  3. Examples / Personal experience
  4. Personal opinion
• Notes:
  • I can ask the meaning of a word if it's a critical one.
  • I can use a watch to know the time.

TASK B: Dialogue

• Duration: 8-9' in total.
• Temporal distribution (going from concrete to abstract):
  1. Description: Tell the common denominator of the 4 given images, and the start speaking about 2. Do NOT describe the photos (never say "I can see a...").
  2. Narration: Past, present or future. Sample question: "Which one is more relatable?".
  3. Opinion: Sample question: "What makes a good classroom?". From this point I should expect being under heavy fire.
  4. Argumentation: It can intertwine with the opinion point, or if there is no luck, they will resort to other questions.

Ideas to look at just before the exam

• Use "they" instead of "he/she". Never use singular "they".
• One paragraph $\neq$ One sentence.
• "Which" y compañía adquieren el número del sustantivo al que sustituyen.

Miscellaneous vocabulary

• Loim = Solomillo.
• Mixer = Batidora.
• Sympathetic = Compasivo.
• Thourough = Exhaustivo.
• Conscientious = Concienzudo.
• Sensible = Inteligente.
• Sensitive = Sensible (those kids are really sensitive).
• Unforgiven.
• Former = Erstwhile = Previous.
• Buzzword = Palabra común de hoy en día.´
• Impolite = Rude.
• Long weekend = Puente (de fiesta).
• Sales = Rebajas.
• Scorching = Abrasando.
• Awkard = Difícil (la partículo aw indica algo negativo).
• Seldom = Muy infrecuentemente.
• Blurb = Contraportada.
• Unbearable = Inosable Insoportable.
• Leisure = Ocio.
• Runner-up = Segundo en una competición.
• To stop dead = Cease = Parar.
• Narrow = Estrecho.
• Lead = Correa (de perro).
• Trafic jam = Superatasco.
• Bike line = Carril bici.
• Stimulus/Stimuli = Estímulo/s.
• Two-storey house = Casa de dos plantas.
• Resentfull = Enfadado.
• Never ever = Never++.
• In the end = Eventually.
• In the beggining of.
• MP = Member of parliament.
• On / In my way = La primera "de camino", la segunda "en el camino" en el sentido físico.
• Glass ceiling = El techo de cristal.
• Convenience = Effectiveness = Improvement.
• Expulsion, not expellment.
• Trade union = Sindicato.
• Withhold = Retain = Control oneself.
• Coping skills: The methods a person uses to deal with stressful situations.
• Antithesis.
• Hypocrite = /ˈhipəˌkrit/
• Oxymoron: A term that contradicts itself. For example: ‘humane slaughter’. An act of cruelty cannot be kind.
• The trolley problem.
• Wealth and fame.
• Unintentional.
• Fiancé / Fiancée.
• Split up = Ending a relationship.
• Bike line.
• Downtown = Centro de la ciudad.
• Sights = Monumentos.
• Memorial.
• The so-called...
• Mass tourism = Overtourism.
• Asylum = Shelter.
• Majority / Minority.
• An exit visa.
• Weep = Cry.
• Cap and trade police = Pollution limit which can be sold.
• Desertification.
• Renewable energy.

Expressions++

• I'm just playing devil's advocate.
• I wanto to give you my tupenceworth (mi contribution).
• I don't want to fall behind (quedar atrás).
• There's always a dumb of the village.
• Everything is cluttered (disorganised) in Eliza's room.
• This is a one-off ocasion, you shouldn't miss it. (Once in a lifetime).
• She is in the maternity leave.
• I will always regret doing that.
• This method is obsolete.
• Uhhh, Tom Sawyer sure was a cheeky boy (caradura).
• Yeah, my grandma is not specially technologically savy.
• 2 cows for 1 gp? Fair enough, that's a deal.
• Did I get on time or is it too late to do the exam?
• Well, every family has their black sheep.
• Come on, stop having me on (laughing at me), tell me the truth.
• I expect to move up the career ladder in two years at most.
• I have always considered my grandpa the wise owl of the family.
• Kill him with my very own hands? With great gusto.
• I'm asking this out of curiosity, which was the name of the...?
• Contrary to popular belief, panda bears are designed to be carnivorous.
• So, in order to check if your theory is correct, you need a guinea pig, right?
• Today I will stay at home.
• I find myself having trouble focusing.
• Hey! That wasn't funny at all! You really have bad milk (mala uva).
• Thou shalt never judge a book by the cover.
• Sorry, I went blank. What were we talking about?
• Hope is the last thing you lose.
• Well, the way I reflect on/mull over/sleep on the matter is that...
• Actually I'm an anthropologist, human reality is my cup of tea.
• The body was found in an impossible place, there is something that doesn't add up...
• Could you practice what you preach? Would you turn the other cheek? (From "Where Is the Love?", by The Black Eyed Peas).
• You are despising my cultural/natural heritage! Hesitate right now!
• I won't arrive there in time, I got the rush hour (hora del atasco).
• I, for once/exceptionally, believe that...
• Do you feel the generation gap with your colleagues?
• TAL.IA is a project by means of which we will be able to use deep learning in order to aid the d/Deaf community.
• There are always two sides to any situation. In the case of...
• This model achieves the state-of-the-art in the SLR task.
• There is no other thing to have in mind but the uncertainty of...
• I'm in dire need of a hero.
• One must look for themselves.
• He got the job against all odds.
• During summer, I always try to go of / away from the beaten track, I'm a fan of alternative tourism.
• I haven't time / a clue.
• He can only do that, he's a one trick pony.
• I'm the King of Fools and baby you're the Queen of White Lies.
• The word "queer" is an umbrella term.
• I would like to bring your attention to another fundamental point made in the report.
• Have a positive impact on something / someone.
• It's the backbone of society.