Tag: exams

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E Class? Who Cares! Let’s Just Skip over to Lower!

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Since its conception, the CEFR (Common European Framework) has offered a reference for languages as regards learning, teaching and assessment. This has established a solid, yet immense network of services comprised of educators, publications and of course exam evaluation leading to the eventual certification of competency as regards the target language and level. What baffled most, however, was the diversity of each language as the CEFR in some instances failed to properly represent the complexity of levels they had to offer. Students, parents, even educators are perplexed as to the existence of the B1+ level, some calling it Pre-Lower, Preliminary E’, Intermediate E’ – yes it gets even more confusing… bear with me.  “Why not just skip it and start working on B2?” many have pondered this question.

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Don’t Panic! It’s Just an Exam!

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Is it that time of the year again? My, oh, my, how time flies! After months and in many cases years of preparation, it all comes down to that final exam which will reward the test taker for all his hard efforts. It would be futile to debate the effectiveness of tests or question what the best way to assess a student’s skills or knowledge is. Tests are here to stay and whether we like it or not, we have to comply with this designated method of evaluation. Το make matters worse, students are more often than not hindered by the prospect of evaluation. Negative emotions of anticipation and frustration overwhelm them, rendering an inability to exhibit their true potential. As educators, the responsibility falls upon us once again to lighten the burden of anxiety and alleviate their suffering during those last few moments before their exams. Here are five essential approaches to test taking that you can share with them.

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Do We Really Need Language Certificates?

By Katherine Reilly, Author, Teacher Trainer

Originally Published in ELT NEWS Magazine.

Yikes! Are we actually going there? In a market that is constantly changing, one would question the necessity of acquiring a certificate which would proudly adorn our wall, only to have it sidelined by most employers. Many a time, I would converse with students who have landed a job, only to tell me that they were never asked for their language certificate as a prerequisite to their hiring. “They just asked for my university degree and proof of previous experience,” is the answer I get out of most of them. Why then have we stressed the significance of acquiring proof of knowledge of a spoken language, only to have it disregarded by most?

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