Practice Task 10 · Parts 1–4

From: Marisol Fentanes, Evening Student

To: Debora Kirwan, Program Coordinator, Larchmount Adult Learning Centre

Subject: Moving from English Level 3 to Level 4

Hi Debora,

I finished Level 3 English in December and registered for Level 4, which starts on the 20th. Last week I sat in on the first Level 4 class as a visitor because my registration had not been processed yet, and I found it much harder than I expected. Several classmates from Level 3 who moved up with me said the same thing, and two of them are already talking about dropping back down.

I don't want to quit the program, but I am worried I registered for the wrong level. Is there a placement test I should have taken before being moved up automatically? My Level 3 instructor recommended me for Level 4 based on my final grade, but nobody actually assessed my speaking, and that is the part I struggled with most in the class I visited.

I also want to ask about the Tuesday and Thursday evening schedule. The Level 4 class meets from 6 to 8:30, but my Level 3 class only met until 8. Is the extra thirty minutes new to Level 4, or was I misinformed about the Level 3 schedule the whole time?

Finally, if I do decide to repeat part of Level 3 instead of continuing to Level 4, will that affect my eligibility for the childcare subsidy the centre offers? I was told it only applies for two consecutive terms, and I have already used one.

Thank you,

Marisol

— REPLY —

From: Debora Kirwan

To: Marisol Fentanes

Subject: RE: Moving from English Level 3 to Level 4

Hi Marisol,

Thanks for flagging this before the term starts. You're right that instructor recommendation is currently our only method for moving students between levels; we do not require a separate placement test, though I agree that speaking should probably be assessed directly, and I've raised this with the curriculum committee for next year.

Given what you observed, I would recommend attending our optional bridge session, which runs for two weeks before Level 4 begins and focuses specifically on conversational speaking at the Level 3-to-4 transition point. It is not mandatory, but most students who take it report feeling much more comfortable in Level 4 afterward. If you attend and still feel Level 4 is too difficult after the first two real class sessions, you can switch back to Level 3 with no penalty, as long as you do it within the first two weeks of term.

On the schedule: Level 4 has always met for two and a half hours rather than two, since the material at that level includes a dedicated conversation segment that Level 3 does not have. You were not misinformed; the classes are simply structured differently.

Regarding the childcare subsidy, repeating part of Level 3 would not count as a new eligible term if you are only repeating a portion of it rather than the whole course, so it would not use up your second and final term of eligibility. However, if you switch back to a full Level 3 course rather than Level 4, that would count as your second term.

Let me know if you would like a seat in the bridge session — space is limited to fifteen.

Debora