Unit 1. English in the World Part 2. Globalisation Lead in
There are quite a few systems to test a person’s ability to use English. They vary in purpose, target audience, format and scoring system. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to assess whether non-English speaking students are ready to study or train in the medium of English in an English speaking country. The USA universities’ measure of your competence in English is typically the TOEFL.
Your test result will consist of a score in each of the four skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking). There is no fixed pass mark in both tests. The institution you want to enter will decide whether your score is appropriate for the demands of the course of study or training you want to undertake.
In the IELTS the score is averaged to give the IELTS band-score, or final mark. Performance is rated on a scale of 9-1.
Familiarise yourself with the interpretations and suggest as follows:
How do you assess your current ability in English using the IELTS’s criteria?
What was your command of English like when you had just entered the university?
What advances in English (listening, spoken interaction and production, reading and writing skills) do you expect to make this year?
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9 Expert Has fully operational command of the language: appropriate, accurate and fluent with complete understanding. |
8 Very good user Has fully operational command of the language with only occasional unsystematic inaccuracies and inappropriacies. Misunderstandings may occur in unfamiliar situations. Handles complex detailed argumentation well. |
7 Good user Has operational command of the language, though with occasional inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings in some situations. Generally handles complex language well and understands detailed reasoning. |
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6 Competent user Has generally effective command of the language despite inaccuracies, inappropriacies and misunderstandings. Can use and understand fairly complex language, particularly in familiar situations. |
5 Modest user Has partial command of the language, coping with overall meaning in most situations, though is likely to make many mistakes. Should be able to handle basic communication in own field. |
4 Limited user Basic competence is limited to familiar situations. Has frequent problems in understanding and expression. Is not able to use complex language.
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3 Extremely limited user Conveys and understands only general meaning in very familiar situations. Frequent breakdowns in communication occur.
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2 Intermittent user No real communication is possible except for the most basic information using isolated words or short formulae in familiar situations and to meet immediate needs. Has great difficulty understanding spoken and written English. |
1 Non user Essentially has no ability to use the language beyond possibly a few isolated words.
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There are statistics for the average English test score levels in individual countries and across continents. What is Ukraine's rating in the English study and ability, do you think?
Think about the following points:
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Now you will listen to a piece of journalism entitled "English Tests Swiss Identity". It looks into the destiny of English in Switzerland. There are a number of different arguments. As you listen, take notes on the points of view of the following people and groups:
Educationalists and politicians;
Young people from different language areas;
A linguist from the University of Bern;
The guardians of the existing national languages;
Zurich's authors of the new language curriculum called "Schools Project 21";
Ticino canton's community;
An observer on the Swiss multi-lingual society.
Give reasons for their position.
