Writing for Cambridge C2 Proficiency
A course to unravel the writing paper of the Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam.
Who is this course for?
This course is for English teachers and students of the English language who would like to develop their writing skills with a view to passing the Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam.
The rationale behind this course
Teaching writing lessons to students preparing to pass advanced Cambridge exams, I've noticed that some students tend to focus solely on grammar and vocabulary when they work on their writing skills, neglecting other important aspects, such as task achievement, organization, and communicative achievement. Students who failed the exam in the past and later came to me for private tutoring reported "not knowing what went wrong, as they remembered employing a lot of advanced structures and vocabulary in their writing tasks." There is more to advanced writing than simply language. In this course, the goal is to unravel the writing styles tested in the Cambridge C2 Proficiency exam (essay, report, article, review, and letter) by actively producing texts on a weekly basis.
What makes this course a must?
This course is particularly enriching for English teachers and students of the English language who would like to become familiar with different writing genres as well as the conventions of each genre. In addition, aspects related to appropriacy and register, something that is often overlooked in textbooks, will also be the focus of this course. Ultimately, by taking this course, students will have an in-depth understanding of what proficiency writing skills look like.
Content of the course
In this course, you will learn:
• How to fully answer the question;
• The difference between straightforward and complex ideas;
• Different ways in which a text can be organized for different purposes;
• How to employ linkers, cohesive devices, and organizational patterns effectively;
• How to write an essay;
• How to write a report;
• How to write a review;
• How to write an article;
• How to write a letter.
Keep in mind that this is not a grammar course. If you'd like to learn grammar, I suggest you take the Explicit Advanced Grammar course.
Course format
This is a group course.
Minimum number of students: 3
Maximum number of students: 4
The duration of each session is 1 hour and 30 minutes. If the student is not able to attend the session, they will have access to the recording, which will be made available for 30 days.
Keep in mind that this course is a synchronous course with active work on writing; therefore, taking it asynchronously is not a possibility.
What does a typical lesson in this course look like?
Prior to each session, students will be assigned a pre-task (a 80-100-word assignment). The passages produced by them will be the focus of each lesson (learn by doing). In this way, besides receiving my feedback, students will also benefit from peer feedback. Students' identities will remain anonymous in order not to cause any discomfort, embarrassment, or comparison with their peers. In this way, on a weekly basis, students will be receiving direct feedback on everything they produce, thus being able to, little by little, improve their writing skills. Students will not receive feedback in case they submit their pre-tasks after the established deadline.
What the course includes
20 synchronous sessions (90min long) with direct feedback in class.
2 pieces of detailed writing feedback (1 essay and 1 option of their own).
Dates and course duration
20-week course | 30 hours of weekly live sessions
📅 Date: From January 23rd to June 26th (every Thursday)
🕟 Time: From 3pm BRT to 4:30pm
Jan 16th, 23th, 30th
Feb 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
April 10th, 17th
Recess from April 18th to May 5th
May 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
June 5th, 12th, 26th
Writing submission dates
This course includes 2 pieces of detailed writing feedback, which must be submitted as follows:
First piece of writing feedback | Writing Task 1 (Essay)
Submission date: between April 18th and 28th.
Second piece of writing feedback | Writing Task 2 (Student's choice)
Submission date: between June 6th and 12th.
The time zone in Brazil is GMT-3. To check time zones, click here. Make sure to consider daylight saving policies in your own country.
What people who took part in the previous edition have to say about the course:
"I could go on and on about your professionalism, your impressive knowledge and the quality of everything you deliver. What you do is outstanding and truly inspiring. However, it's your generosity that I'd like to compliment. Thank you for constantly making me feel like a peer, not merely a student. Thank you for supporting my work and encouraging me to go further and be ambitious. Thank you for allowing me to pick your brain and learn from your experience. Your course exceeded every expectation I had." - Ms. Passos from Brazil
"Dear Fernanda! I am honoured to have been part of this course. I cannot thank you enough for this incredible, unique and, without exaggeration, eye-opening experience for me. I am so genuinely happy for the chance to learn from you!" - Ms. Olena from Ukraine
"I feel much more confident about writing as well as teaching for C2. I admit there are a lot of things for me to improve yet, but I am really happy with my progress." - Ms. Kateryne from Ukraine
"Thank you, Fer! This course helped me not only write better but also have a better understanding of what each genre entails. The last lessons focused on assessment were also really enriching." - Ms. Borba from Brazil