International English Language Testing
Language Testing Overview
Language testing is a massive industry – It may not be the most fun way to earn a dollar (compared to the fun-filled world of General English for example) but if you specialise in a language test (or two) chances are you will be able to either pick up tutoring work in your local community and/or land a niche job in a school doing language test preparation.
International Tests
In context with Australia’s ESL industry, the big language tests are as follows: IELTS (International English Language Testing Service (IELTS is offered in both Academic and General streams)), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), Cambridge with: PET (The Preliminary English Test, FCE (First Certificate of English), CAE (Certificate of Advanced English), TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), and ISLPR (International Second Language Proficiency Rating). In recent times, there is also the OET (Occupational English Test), which was designed to provide NESB professionals access to a test that was adequately focused on their professional knowledge and skill-set (e.g. medical professionals). A final player that has burst on to the Australian language testing landscape in recent years is the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
Australian Vocational Education and Training Context
There is also a major rubric that has been introduced to the Australian Language Literacy and Numeracy Sector (The LLNP (Language Literacy & Numeracy Program) was changed to the (SEE Program which stands for ‘Skills for Education & Employment Program). The competency based standards within this program are called the ACSF (Australian Core Skills Framework) which will become more and more predominant as it has been introduced to the Australian Secondary and Vocational Education industry as a benchmark for Literacy and Numeracy skills required for Vocational Education and Training qualifications.
Below is a brief list of who may require which test along with a realistic situation as to why they may decide and/or need to sit one of them (these are just examples only and many other situations obviously apply):
OET – A doctor from India who wants to do a Post-graduate qualification
IELTS General – A NESB immigrant to Australia who has completed a small automotive course and runs his own business and want to apply for permanent residency
IELTS Academic – A South Korean in her early 20s who wants to study a Bachelor of Business at an Australian University
TOIEC – A Japanese businessman who wants to improve in business communication skills for his international clients
CAE – A Swiss linguistics graduate who wishes to become an interpreter and translator of English to German to Swiss-French
FCE – A language-learning hobbyist who would like something to show for their English language studies as personal development
Additional specifics as to how these tests operate are explained and explored further in our unit on Assess ESL Learning and at selected workshops.
Useful websites for understanding English testing systems and exams:
http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/
References
Image by Kevin Phillips from Pixabay
See hyperlinks for websites of major International Language test homepages
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