What is a language portfolio?The aim of creating a language portfolio with your pupils is to promote the learning of languages in general, and to record and validate all their linguistic abilities and language learning experiences (including those from outside the classroom).

The European Language PortfolioThe Council of Europe is promoting the use of the ‘European Language Portfolio’, a three-part portfolio which has the aim of encouraging lifelong language learning, providing a record of linguistic skills that is internationally recognized, and promoting tolerance and cultural awareness through learning other languages. The intention is that each student has their own personal Portfolio that will accompany them throughout their learning experience. The European Language Portfolio is divided into the following sections:

PassportThe Passport section provides an overview of each student’s ability in a language or languages. It includes self-evaluation and teacher assessment as well as any certificates a student may have received or records of courses they have completed.

BiographyThe Biography section allows the student to reflect upon and assess his or her progress. It encourages the student to think about what he / she can do in the language.

DossierThe Dossier contains selected pieces of work which illustrate the student’s achievements, abilities, and experiences, as recorded in the Biography or Passport.

What is the Incredible EnglishPortfolio?

The idea of the Incredible English Portfolio is to raise awareness of the existence of the European Language Portfolio and to prepare children to use future portfolios in the secondary education system. It is a useful tool for teachers in future years as it allows them to see what each child has studied so far. It is also extremely motivating as it gives children the opportunity to be responsible for their own learning as they indicate what they can do in English and decide autonomously what work to include in their Portfolio.

The Incredible English Portfolio does not aim to exactly match the structure of the European Language Portfolio, but instead takes the elements from it which are most relevant for children of this age.

Each child’s personalized Incredible English Portfolio might consist of a selection of the following, stored together in a designated file, folder, or box:

Passport / Biography section:• Photocopies of My English pages, completed at the end

of each term• Photocopies of the certificate for Level 5• Completed unit and term tests• Certificates of any external exams pupils have sat,

e.g. UCLES ‘Movers/Flyers’ exam

Dossier section:• Pieces of writing from each unit’s writing lesson

(Lesson 8)• ‘Learning through English’ mini projects (Lesson 11)• Photocopies of completed pages from the Activity

Book and / or the Photocopy Masters Book;• Cassette or video recordings of pupils singing songs

or acting out stories, e.g. performing the Lesson 5 playscripts;

• Other (see ‘Further ideas’ below).

The Incredible English Portfolio can be included in the classroom routine as much or as little as you choose. If your students haven't worked on a Portfolio before, a good point to start would be towards the end of the first term. Explain to the pupils what a language portfolio is, let them make the cover pages and complete the first My English page (see below). Tell them that they will be responsible for choosing which pieces of work they would like to include in the Dossier section (they can choose the pieces of work which they are most proud of, which they have most enjoyed doing, or which they think would be most interesting to other people).

Parents should be encouraged to support their children’s language learning by helping them collect items for their Portfolio or making suggestions about what pieces of work to include in the Dossier section.

The Incredible English Portfolio for Level 5 contains the following material

Portfolio coverPupils fill this in and stick it on the cover of the file, folder, or box that they are going to use for their Incredible English Portfolio. They can also stick on a photo or a drawing of themselves.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Notes for the teacher)

INCREDIBLE ENGLISH 5 Portfolio – Notes for the teacher

My English pagesThese summary / self-evaluation pages are intended to be completed at the end of each unit or term. Go through the ‘I can’ statements with the pupils first to make sure they understand them (you may need to translate some of the statements), and help them as necessary by reminding them of the language from the relevant units and writing examples on the board.

My wordsPupils tick the boxes to say which pieces of writing and mini projects they have completed. If pupils have chosen to include any of these items in the Dossier section of their Portfolio, they can draw a star next to the item to indicate this.

CertificateAt the end of the year, the teacher signs the certificate to say the pupil has completed the level. Each pupil then completes the sentences about their favourite things in the course, and signs the certificate.

Dossier cover (My work)At primary school level, the Dossier of the work chosen by the pupil will probably be the largest section of the Portfolio. This page, entitled My work, will be the cover of that section, which can either be included within a ring-binder for the whole Portfolio, or kept in a separate folder or box. Pupils colour the page, and can also create a list of the Dossier contents if they wish.

What does the Dossier contain?It is important that pupils understand that they make the choice of which pieces of work to include in their personal Dossier. They can choose the pieces of work which they are most proud of, which they have most enjoyed doing, or which they think would be most interesting to other people. In addition to the My work items suggested on the My English pages, pupils may like to include photocopies of their favourite pages from the Activity Book or Photocopy Masters Book, or video or audio recordings of themselves singing songs or doing role-plays from the course (e.g. acting out the Lesson 5 playscripts).

Further ideasEnglish language learning is not restricted to the classroom, and as part of the Portfolio’s aim to foster positive attitudes towards other cultures, pupils should be encouraged to notice any examples of English language and culture around them. Pupils can collect (or photocopy) comics, food packaging, CD and DVD covers, stamps, tickets, postcards, song lyrics, etc. and keep them in their Portfolio folder or box. Alternatively, you could create an ‘English corner’ in the classroom where such objects could be displayed for the whole class to see.

Pupils can also write about their experiences with English, e.g. listing any projects they have done, performances of plays, courses attended (including after-school classes and summer schools), details of trips to English-speaking countries, communication with / exchanges with pen pals, and simply a list of English-speaking people they know. They can illustrate their work with pictures of their experiences.

Encourage pupils to take pride in their Portfolios, and to regularly go through the Dossier section, tidying and organizing it, and adding work as necessary to keep it updated. Encourage them to show their Portfolios to friends, family, and other teachers in the school, and remind them that is a valuable record of their achievements in English. Fostering early pride and motivation in this way will encourage pupils to continue learning and using English (and other languages) throughout their lives.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Notes for the teacher)

5

Name

Age

Class

School

Teacher

Stick yourphoto here

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Cover / Passport)

My English (Units 1–3)

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Learning biography)

Vocabulary I can say:1 the words for things we read from CB page 5

1 the design words from CB page 11

2 the words for kitchen items from CB page 13

2 the words for animals from CB page 18

3 the town words from CB page 21

4 the maths words from CB page 26

I can remember: some of the words.

most of the words.

all of the words.

Grammar I can make:1 sentences using There was … and There were …

2 sentences using could and couldn’t

3 sentences using the Past simple

Listening I can understand …

• words and phrases in a story1 people talking about books

1 people talking about concept maps

2 people talking about films

2 people talking about cave paintings

3 people talking about places in a castle

3 people talking about Roman numbers

Speaking I can …

• act out a story playscript1 make suggestions with Let’s … and Shall we …?

1 talk about the spelling and meaning of words

1 talk about favourite books

1 talk about concept maps

2 talk about old objects in a museum

2 do a role play about going to the cinema

2 talk about cave paintings

3 give and follow directions

3 do a role play about visiting places in a castle

3 talk about Roman numbers

Reading I can understand …

• a story and a playscript1 a magazine interview

1 a text about concept maps

2 a simple newspaper article

2 a text about cave paintings

3 a leaflet about a castle

3 a text about Roman numbers

Writing I can …

• complete a playscript1 write a book review

1 write about a concept map

2 describe a real or imaginary dinosaur

2 describe a cave painting

3 write a leaflet about a tourist attraction

3 write about myself using Roman numbers

My work Children may choose to put some or all of these pieces of work in the Dossier part of their Portfolio.

I have completed these things:

1 A book review

1 Mini project: A concept map

2 A description of a dinosaur

2 Mini project: A cave painting

3 A leaflet about a tourist attraction

3 Mini project: Roman numbers

= my best work (look in my dossier)

My English (Units 4–6)

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Learning biography)

Vocabulary I can say:4 the words for craft items from CB page 29

4 the words for inventions from CB page 34

5 the words for housework jobs from CB page 37

5 the words for musical instruments from CB page 42

6 the words for food and drink from CB page 45

6 the words for nutrients from CB page 55

I can remember: some of the words.

most of the words.

all of the words.

Grammar I can make:4 questions using the Past simple

5 sentences using the Past continuous

6 sentences with too much, too many, and enough

Listening I can understand …

• words and phrases in a story4 people talking about making models

4 questions about inventions

5 people talking about going to the cinema or theatre

5 people talking about musical instruments

6 people talking about going to a party or carnival

6 people talking about nutrients in food

Speaking I can …

• act out a story playscript4 ask for things politely in the classroom

4 do a role play about making models

4 talk about inventions

5 talk about what I have to do at home

5 do a role play about going to the cinema or theatre

5 talk about musical instruments

6 order food in a restaurant

6 do a role play about a party or carnival

6 talk about nutrients in food

Reading I can understand …

• a story and a playscript 4 instructions for making models

4 a text about inventions

5 a text about the Wonderful Wizard of Oz

5 a text about musical instruments

6 an article about a street party

6 a text about nutrients in food

Writing I can …

• complete a playscript4 write about something I have made

4 write about an imaginary invention

5 write a programme note about myself

5 write about musical instruments

6 describe my favourite food

6 write about the nutrients in different foods

My work Children may choose to put some or all of these pieces of work in the Dossier part of their Portfolio.

I have completed these things:

4 Writing about something I have made

4 Mini project: An imaginary invention

5 A programme note about myself

5 Mini project: Musical instruments

6 Writing about my favourite food

6 Mini project: Nutrients

= my best work (look in my dossier)

My English (Units 7–9)

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Learning biography)

Vocabulary I can say:7 the words for woodland animals from CB page 53

7 the food chain words from CB page 58

8 the words for jobs from CB page 61

8 the words for polygons from CB page 66

9 the words for adventure sports from CB page 69

9 the Beaufort scale words from CB page 74

I can remember: some of the words.

most of the words.

all of the words.

Grammar I can make:7 sentences using going to

8 short answers (e.g. Yes, I am, No, they didn’t)

9 sentences using the Present perfect

Listening I can understand …

• words and phrases in a story7 people talking about adopting an animal

7 sentences and questions about a food web

8 an interview with a chocolatier

8 people talking about polygons in patterns

9 people talking about famous sports people

9 people talking about the effects of the wind

Speaking I can …

• act out a story playscript7 describe animals

7 do a role play about adopting an animal

7 talk about food chains and food webs

8 talk about the job I want to do

8 do a role play interview about jobs

8 talk about polygons in patterns

9 discuss and compare sports

9 talk about my sports hero

9 talk about the effects of the wind

Reading I can understand …

• a story and a playscript7 an advert about adopting animals

7 a text about food chains

8 a quiz about jobs

8 a text about polygons

9 an article about Ellen MacArthur

9 a text about the wind and the Beaufort scale

Writing I can …

• complete a playscript7 write about a day out

7 write about food chains

8 write a simple letter

8 write about polygons in patterns

9 write a diary

9 describe the effects of the wind

My work Children may choose to put some or all of these pieces of work in the Dossier part of their Portfolio.

I have completed these things:

7 Writing about a day out

7 Mini project: Food chains

8 A letter

8 Mini project: Polygons in patterns

9 A diary

9 Mini project: A wind diary

= my best work (look in my dossier)

5

Signed (pupil)

This is to certify that

has completed the

Incredible English course (Level 5)

Signed (teacher)

My favourite story was

My favourite song was

My favourite ‘Learning through English’ topic was

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Course certificate)

Signed (pupil)

5

writing

favourite pages projects

recordings

Portfolio Dossier (Level 5)

PHOTOCOPIABLE © Oxford University Press | Incredible English 5 Portfolio (Dossier cover)