Page 24 - ELG1601 Aug-Sep Issue 439

Page 12 ELpeople August / September 2016

rience is in publishing, Trinity builds on its strengths
our professional expe-

Yparticularly educa-
tional publishing. Now you are
director of Europe for exam Melanie Butler asks Andrew Freeman, Trinity College London director of Europe, about
board Trinity College London,
responsible for ELT both for his professional background, the impact of Brexit and his plans for Trinity’s suite of exams
students and teacher trainees,
as well as music and drama.
As I understand it, your inter- more than sixty years. Trinity itly addresses the integration of successful for many reasons, not
est in these areas and your believes that effective commu- skills. Modern understanding of least their non-scripted nature,
passion for travelling comes nicative and performance skills interaction confirms that, in real- the emphasis on student choice
from your family. Your father are life-enhancing, should know world communication, language of discussion topics and the
taught EFL? no boundaries and be within skills are truly integrated. The focus on face-to-face conver-
Yes, my father did teach EFL reach of us all. We see the under- construct of ISE is unique in that sation between examiner and
but quite late in life. He was lying demand for ELT continu- it embraces what we now know student. GESE has been in great
actually a vicar while I was ing to grow, and also the need for about how we learn and use lan- demand for many years and we
growing up, but he and my transferable skills and broader guage, and reflects this in the do not see this demand weaken-
mother had lived abroad doing communication skills. construct of the test by assessing ing. The twelve grades of GESE
missionary work and have lots In the UK, of course, Trin- skill integration. provide a well-established path-
of tales to tell of this. He then ity Integrated Skills in English And lastly it would be utility. way for learning with excellent
taught English for a time in (ISE) is one of two exams Not only is Trinity ISE accepted washback into the classroom,
various places, including quite a accepted as a Secure Eng- for Selt purposes by UKVI, it’s benefitting both teachers and
long period in Turkey. This love lish Language Tests (Selt) also widely recognised as an students.
of travel has definitely rubbed for student visas under tier accurate indicator of communi- Selt is a particular case in
off, and I have travelled pretty 4, as we call it. Although it’s cative ability. Well over 90 per point, as GESE is recognised for
widely, including with Collins well-known in Europe, it’s cent of higher educational insti- the Home Office requirements
Learning in my last role as asso- relatively new to UK language tutions in the UK recognise ISE for citizenship, spousal visas
ciate publisher and with the arts schools. What do you see as its as a robust measure of language and indefinite leave to remain as
publisher Thames & Hudson. In three most important features, proficiency. an excellent way of checking the
fact, my very first day at work from a teacher’s point of view? For teachers in UK language language level of a non-native
with Thames & Hudson was in First, I’d suggest positive schools ISE offers a range of speaker of English. We see
Istanbul, and ended with a very ’washback’. Teachers don’t want advantages as an assessment, great further potential for GESE
pleasant but slightly surreal din- to spend time teaching a set of Courtesy Trinity College London but ultimately it’s the student worldwide and in the UK both in
ner with my brand new boss, my discrete ‘test skills’ that have no that matters, so such questions the ELT sector and for SELT.
dad and me. use to a student other than in the remain: What will have a positive What do you think the big-
In terms of the EU, you exam room. If they prepare their effect on their learning? What gest challenge in your job is
have arrived just in time for students for an ISE exam, owing will help develop their skills and what are you most looking
Brexit. What has the immedi- to the construct of the test, they GLOBAL VISION Andrew Freeman says that his love of travel for life? What will encourage forward to?
ate impact been on Trinity and will be nurturing communicative comes from his parents, who lived abroad doing missionary work real-world communication? ISE The biggest challenge for me
what do you see as the biggest competence – preparing students addresses all of these questions. is taking Trinity’s ELT, music
challenge going forward? to deal with authentic tasks that utility of the teaching activi- nication at that level, whatever Trinity is best known in UK and drama exams much more
Brexit does not change our reflect real-world communica- ties. And most importantly, they the situation. ELT for GESE, your spoken deeply into key markets beyond
commitment to deepening our tion. This makes teaching much know that a student that passes Second is the fact that ISE is English tests. What are your our traditional areas of strength,
existing ties within Europe, more productive, as students an ISE exam will be able to a highly contemporary exam, plans for them? and the opportunity here really
some of which now date back appreciate the relevance and engage in spontaneous commu- one reason being that it explic- Our GESE exams have been excites me. n

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