Review Lab 2 — Use of English Clinic

Lab scenario

A communicative grammar clinic: pairs solve mixed R&UoE items together, justify their answers aloud, then run a 'live grammar' Speaking P3 task using the target structures.

Skills you'll practise

Transformation controlCohesionListening for detailTalking through grammar

Stations

Practice rotation

Five stations · ~12 min each. In 1:1, teacher and learner move through together.

60 min total

Station 1 · 12 min

R&UoE Part 4 · Key Word Transformations (warm-up MCQ form)

Reformulate without losing meaning. Watch the word-count window (3–6 words).

They didn't realise how much the project would cost. (LITTLE) → ____ how much the project would cost.

It's the lighting that makes the room feel cold. (RESPONSIBLE) → The lighting ____ the room feel cold.

She only understood the problem after speaking to him. (UNTIL) → ____ to him that she understood the problem.

I'd rather you didn't tell anyone about this. (KEEP) → I'd prefer ____ to yourself.

The minister refused to comment on the issue. (DECLINED) → The minister ____ on the issue.

He only started to enjoy the job after six months. (BEGIN) → Only ____ to enjoy the job.

Station 2 · 12 min

R&UoE Part 2 · Open Cloze (single-word MCQ)

Spot the missing grammatical / lexical glue: prepositions, references, linkers.

Few researchers, ____ any, would dispute the basic finding.

The new policy makes ____ difference to part-time staff.

She succeeded ____ the fact that no one believed in her.

It is by no ____ certain that the deal will go ahead.

The committee, ____ members are all volunteers, meets monthly.

He apologised ____ having raised his voice during the meeting.

Station 3 · 12 min

Listening Part 2 · Sentence Completion (MCQ form)

Catch the exact word / phrase the speaker uses, not a paraphrase.

Extract 1

Extract 1 — A wildlife photographer talking about her early career.

Extract 1

Tap play to listen. Scrub the bar or use ± 5 s to jump.

According to the speaker, the most important factor in her early progress was her ____.

Extract 2

Extract 2 — A historian introducing a new book on medieval cities.

Extract 2

Tap play to listen. Scrub the bar or use ± 5 s to jump.

The historian was most surprised by the medieval cities' level of ____.

Extract 3

Extract 3 — A chef describing the hardest part of opening a restaurant.

Extract 3

Tap play to listen. Scrub the bar or use ± 5 s to jump.

The chef found that the hardest part of opening was ____.

Station 4 · 12 min

Reformulation Sprint · 120-word paragraph

Use at least one inversion and one cleft inside a real, unforced paragraph.

Scenario

A friend has sent you a short, flat paragraph from their cover letter: "I worked at the café for two years. I learned a lot. I am now ready for something bigger. I think your company is interesting."

Task · 120 words (±10)

Rewrite the paragraph in 120 words (±10) so it sounds C1: precise, evaluative and varied. Use at least one inversion (e.g. Not only…, Never before…) AND one cleft (It was…that…, What I learned was…).

Self-check

Same factual content — no invented experience.
At least one inversion AND one cleft, used naturally.
Two evaluative phrases (e.g. what genuinely struck me…, far more than I'd expected).
No three-word sentences; clauses are joined or subordinated.

Station 5 · 12 min

Reformulation Reflection

Name one inversion + one cleft you now own and can reach for under pressure.

Discuss

1. Which transformation in Station 1 felt furthest from your instinct? Why?
2. Did inversion feel literary, or did it actually fit your paragraph?
3. Where in Listening 2 did the paraphrase trick almost catch you?
4. Name one open-cloze category (preposition / linker / determiner) you still lose marks on.

Self-audit · tick what was true

Range — I reach for inversion / cleft, not just 'and / but / so'.
Precision — my reformulation keeps the EXACT meaning of the original.
Listening — I distinguished what the speaker SAID from what's plausible.
Writing — my paragraph sounded grown-up, not just decorated.

Ready for a full paper?

Sit a complete CPE simulation — Mock 1, Mock 2 or the Official Exit Test — in real timing.

Mock Exams & Exit Test

Review Lab complete

Talk through your work with your teacher or study partner, then move on.

Last lesson of module Start Module 3