Webinar: The Importance of English Testing for...
Transcript of Webinar: The Importance of English Testing for...
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Webinar: The Importance
of English Testing for
Corporations March 2013
Amy Wood
Training & Performance Standards Manager
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On-demand Distance Business
English Training that combines
eLearning, eWriting and Live
Coaching
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Agenda
• Why proficiency frameworks are relevant to the corporate setting
• What English language tests aim to measure
• Which standardized tests might meet your corporate needs
• The effects of testing on recruitment, career development, and evaluation
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Why test English skills?
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Why test? • Recruitment
– Ensure candidate qualification
• Career Development
– Talent management
– Workforce and succession planning
• Training Needs Analysis
– Analyze language training needs
– Analyze other needs for training delivered in English
• Training Effectiveness Evaluation
– Analyze improvement after language training
– Analyze improvement after other training
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Why test?
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Effective International
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What is proficiency?
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What is Proficiency?
A measurement of
– Competence
– Skill
– Expertise
There are two kinds of proficiency:
– Technically-oriented
– Action-oriented
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Proficiency with the technical aspects of language or “book knowledge”
• Grammar
• Vocabulary
• Lexicon
• Phonology
Technically-Oriented
Proficiency
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Action-Oriented
Proficiency
Proficiency with what one can DO / CREATE / ACHIEVE with the language
• Understanding changes to product specifications
• Recording meeting minutes
• Understanding spoken instructions
• Describing a process
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Why are proficiency frameworks
relevant to the corporate setting?
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Proficiency frameworks offer standardized, widely accepted, detailed definitions of proficiency levels
• Proof of proficiency using a standardized framework – Reputable
– Trusted
• Portable achievement – Test in China, work successfully in Brazil
• Establish a common reference for description of proficiency – Different tests measure the same proficiencies
Standardized
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• CEFR = Common European Framework of Reference
– Developed by the Council of Europe (COE)
• ALTE = Association of Language Testers in Europe
– Developed by Association of Language Testers (Included founding member Cambridge English)
Frameworks
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CEFR
Level
ALTE
LEVEL
CEFR Sample Description* ALTE Sample Description*
Pro
fic
ien
t u
se
r
C2 ALTE 5 Can express him/herself spontaneously, very
fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades
of meaning even in more complex situations
Can advise on or talk about complex or sensitive
issues, understanding colloquial references and
dealing confidently with hostile questions
C1 ALTE 4 Can express him/herself fluently and
spontaneously without much obvious searching
for expressions
Can use language flexibly and effectively for
social, academic and professional purposes
Can contribute effectively to meetings and seminars
within own area of work or keep up a casual
conversation with a good degree of fluency, coping
with abstract expressions
Ind
ep
en
de
nt
use
r
B2 ALTE 3 Can interact with a degree of fluency and
spontaneity that makes regular interaction with
native speakers quite possible without strain for
either party
Can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or keep
up with a conversation on a fairly wide range of
topics
B1 ALTE 2 Can produce simple connected text on topics
which are familiar or of
personal interest
Can express opinions on abstract/cultural matters
in a limited way or offer advice within a known area,
and understand instructions or public
announcements
Bas
ic U
se
r
A2 ALTE 1 Can communicate in simple and routine tasks
requiring a simple and direct exchange of
information on familiar and routine matters
Can express simple opinions or requirements in a
familiar context
A1 ALTE Can understand and use familiar everyday
expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the
satisfaction of needs of a concrete type
Can understand basic instructions or take part in a
basic factual conversation on a predictable topic
Can understand and use familiar everyday
expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the
satisfaction of needs of a concrete type
Can understand basic instructions or take part in a
basic factual conversation on a predictable topic
Can communicate in simple and routine
tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange
of information on familiar and routine matters
Can express simple opinions or requirements
in a familiar context
Can produce simple connected text on topics
which are familiar or of
personal interest
* Descriptions are incomplete. Examples were taken from the general language ability can–do statements
from the CEFR and ALTE.
Can express opinions on abstract/cultural
matters in a limited way or offer advice within
a known area, and understand instructions or
public announcements
Can interact with a degree of fluency and
spontaneity that makes regular interaction with
native speakers quite possible without strain
for either party
Can follow or give a talk on a familiar topic or
keep up with a conversation on a fairly wide
range of topics
Can express him/herself fluently and
spontaneously without much obvious
searching for expressions
Can use language flexibly and effectively for
social, academic and professional purposes
Can contribute effectively to meetings and
seminars within own area of work or keep up a
casual conversation with a good degree of
fluency, coping with abstract expressions
Can express him/herself spontaneously, very
fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades
of meaning even in more complex situations
Can advise on or talk about complex or sensitive
issues, understanding colloquial references and
dealing confidently with hostile questions
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Which standardized tests might meet
your corporate needs?
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Choices
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Scope & Purpose
• English-speaking environment?
– Academic / University
– Business / Corporate
– General English for immigration
• Communicative tasks?
– Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening
– Does one have priority?
• Subject matter?
– Special needs, such as legal vocabulary
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Overview
TOEIC English for the workplace and business communication
For qualification for work and admission to business–related academic
programs
TOEFL English for academic settings
For admission to educational institutions, immigration; also accepted by
employers
IELTS General and academic English
Two test formats for reading and writing: General Training and Academic
For admission to educational institutions and immigration; also accepted by
employers
BULATS English for the workplace
For work qualifications, admission to business–related programs,
assessment of training
BEC Preliminary
BEC Vantage
BEC Higher
English for the workplace in three proficiency levels
For work qualification and admission to business–related programs
FCE Assessment of upper–intermediate users of English
For work qualification and admission to business–related programs
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Review
• Why are proficiency frameworks relevant to the corporate setting?
• What do English language tests aim to measure?
• Which standardized tests might meet your corporate needs?
• What are the effects of testing on recruitment, career development and evaluation?
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White Paper
Participants of this webinar
received a copy of “A Guide to
English Tests and Proficiency
Frameworks”.
A recording of this webinar is
available on goFLUENT’s
website.
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A Guide for Developing a Request for Proposal for Language Training Services
The ROI of Training: Strategies and Evaluation Methods
From Blended Learning to Integrated Learning
How to Implement Mobile Learning in Global Organizations
A Guide to English Tests and Proficiency Frameworks
Our White Papers