The document outlines the course guidelines for an intermediate level language program based on the American Big Picture series, focusing on skill development in grammar, vocabulary, and critical thinking. It introduces new learning strategies, evaluation criteria, and in-class assessments, emphasizing the importance of participation and outside practice. Additional resources and tips for mastering the course material, including grammar references and online tools, are also provided.

2. Intermediate
Level
General Guidelines for Students

3. Course Overview
The course material belongs to the American Big Picture series.
• In this series, content is presented in a way that will allow you to
consolidate and build up your knowledge gradually and sequentially.
• This material comes with additional components to offer you plenty of
opportunities to practice outside the classroom.
• These books will help you to develop and improve your critical
thinking skills. You will have the chance to analyze, rank, evaluate,
etc., among others.

4. Course Overview
At this level, you will be evaluated based on your ability to:
• use more complex grammar structures accurately.
• use more precise vocabulary and expressions.
• develop better understanding of main ideas in longer texts on concrete and
abstract topics.
• elaborate longer stretches of spoken and written texts (paragraph-length).
• participate actively providing additional information, supporting ideas, and
examples.
• be able to explain your opinion on a wider range of topics (from personal
experience to more global issues).

5. Twonewstrategies: MergingandFlipping
At ICPNA we care about your learning experience and the time you spend in class participating
and communicating with both your teacher and classmates. This is why we are introducing two
new strategies: Merging and Flipping for American Big Picture courses (I05 – I12).
You will find additional information about them in “Course Documents”, in a ppt called “ABP –
Flipping and Merging Strategies for students”

6. Evaluation
Regarding scores, you will be awarded points based on your performance. Make
sure you always do your best. See chart below.
COMPONENT SCORE PERCENTAGE
A. Learning objectives / outcomes 12 points 60%
B. Final written exam 4 points 20%
C. Autonomous learning project (ALP) 4 points 20%
TOTAL 20 points 100%
The minimum passing grade for the level is 14
points.

7. In-class ongoing
assessment (LOs)
Final written exam
Autonomous Learning
Project (ALP)
You will be assessed by means of tasks done in class corresponding to speaking,
writing, and reading outcomes.
Make sure you provide supporting ideas and examples when participating to
show your command of the language.
You will have to show your degree of understanding and correct use of the
language.
Remember the exam includes a section for skills worked on during the course.
This is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to use the language
accurately and effectively in a creative way.
Make sure you use the target language structures as well as the key vocabulary
and expressions in the units.
Additional details on the evaluation system can be found in the
Evaluation Guide.
Evaluation

8. Remember you are expected to:
• attend classes on a regularly, and especially on assessment days.
• discuss with your teacher ways in which you could improve your
performance.
• use all of the additional tools available (workbook, online platform)
for practicing and reinforcing your language skills outside the
classroom.
Evaluation

9. Unit Walkthrough
Here you will find some suggestions you can follow
when working on specific tasks.

10. Welcome Unit
It can be found at the beginning of the book and focuses on presenting
learning strategies to help you become an autonomous learner.
The strategies presented in this section will be useful
during your language learning experience.
Make sure you read them in advance and apply them
whenever possible.

11. Unit Openers
Most lessons start with pictures.
These sets of images serve two purposes:
1. To activate what you know about the topic
2. To present key vocabulary
Be ready to describe the
pictures and speculate
about the unit’s topic.

12. Vocabulary
Make sure you use the new
expressions when you participate.
Look up the words you don’t know in
the dictionary and keep a log to
maximize your learning experience.

13. Grammar
Try reading the Grammar References beforehand and remember to do the
extra activities that accompany them.
Make sure you use the
structures accurately.
Otherwise, your message may
mean something very different.

14. Pronunciation
The pronunciation aspects are usually linked to the
grammar points, so use them when participating.
Using more accurate and authentic pronunciation will help
you get your message across more easily and clearly.

15. Reading
Before you read, try to make predictions
based on the title and the pictures in the
text.
Keep the task objective in mind: Am I
reading for main ideas? Details?

16. Listening
When listening, remember you don’t need to
understand everything; focus on the key words and
task.
Make use of your previous knowledge to predict
what the listening will be about.

17. Speaking
These tasks will usually focus on you, so refer to your personal
experience when discussing these questions.
When giving an opinion, make sure you give supporting
information and examples to enrich it.

18. Writing
While preparing to write, organize your ideas first.
Use an outline to do this.
Editing is an important step of the writing process.
It gives you the opportunity to correct any mistakes
in spelling, grammar, word choice, etc.

19. International Exam Preparation
In this section, you will find exercises similar to the ones
found in international exams so you can practice and become
more familiar with the test format.
Holding an international exam certification is
highly appreciated when applying for a job or
obtaining a degree.

20. Review Unit and Bring It Together Section
Review Units offer
additional practice on
the topics studied in the
course.
Take some time to work on these sections before final exam day, since they
can serve as good practice.
The Bring It Together
section integrates most
topics in the units to help
you reflect on your learning.

21. Other useful tools
Grammar References
Writing Bank
Communication Bank
Read the grammar references in advance. They will offer you an
extended explanation on a given grammatical point. Take some time to
do the additional exercises as extra practice and to be better prepared.
Your teacher will work with you on these activities in class, but feel free
to do them at home as writing practice.
These activities are meant to be done in class with a partner. Your
teacher will let you know how to use these for practice.

22. Selected Transcripts
Irregular verbs and
phonetic charts
Online platform (RLP)
Read these transcripts to find new words or expressions you may want
to add to your vocabulary.
Refer to these useful charts if you want to check: (1) the past tense
and past participles of irregular verbs or (2) the pronunciation symbols
you may find in the dictionary.
Do these exercises as additional practice, especially if you notice you
need more help in consolidating a specific vocabulary item,
grammatical structure, or skill.
Other useful tools

23. Final recommendations
Don’t forget to…
• read the course documents and tutorials available in
Canvas to be better informed of the course.
• use the online platform for extra practice.
• work hard because practice makes perfect!

24. Let’s get to work and enjoy
ourselves!