Page 11 - ELG1801 Jan Issue 453

NEWS
NEWS
rove the solution Teacher’s pet

Ironically enough, top of the charts
this month are England’s much
Point of view feared and oft-maligned school
inspectors Ofsted. They may, after all, have a
The acceptance of the cautiously optimistic of a high sense of humour. As a hashtag was launched
Occupational English Test (OET) demand for courses in the coming on Twitter to parody their policies with adapted
in the UK is clearly a very welcome months. ‘Initially we feel that
move. Many nurses and midwives there will be a big rush to get lyrics of popular songs, their social media
will surely find the content of the nurses enrolled onto a course,’ department decided to respond. So, as one
exam more engaging than that of said Jane. ‘However, there will be twitterata pondered the Simon and Garfunkel
Ielts Academic, although whether others who may sit back and wait lyric ‘Hello Ofsted my old friend’ and another
that results in higher pass rates in to see what results these initial declared ‘I’m just a teacher, nobody loves me’,
the long term remains to be seen. courses achieve.’ Ofsted chimed in. In tune with their recent
There seems to be good A student of mine who has
news too for EFL teachers, who struggled with Ielts for some campaign to lull teachers’ fears, their own
could find new opportunities months wondered why the Twitter ditty went like this:
for employment once they Nursing and Midwifery Council ‘Don’t go changin’ To try and please us
have gained accreditation had not opted to accept the You don’t have to work that hard
status through the Preparation OET sooner. This is arguably the We don’t like mark schemes
Provider Programme. One biggest question to arise from You don’t buy into –
language school, Worcester-based the council’s change in language We like you just the way you are.’
Kingsway, is enthusiastically assessment policy. Not content with trying to show that Ofsted
getting behind the new test as it And what of language teachers
prepares to become an authorised like myself? If overseas nurses is no longer to be feared and loathed, they even
training and test centre. ‘We have favour the new exam in great apologised to the song’s composer Billy Joel with
seen so many nurses work so numbers, will there be less a #SorryBilly. Whatever next? The Ballad of the
incredibly hard to achieve their demand for EFL and EAP teachers British Council or Highway to EFL by AC/BC?
Ielts results over the last eighteen working in the health industry?
months but still can’t quite reach Janeen Gardiner argues that the
that high academic level that the opposite is true. ‘We believe that
exam requires,’ said Kingsway’s teachers will in fact have a greater Naughty corner
marketing head Jane Carley. role for OET preparation than for
‘OET will equip nurses with non-profession-specific tests,’ she
a much more appropriate says.
language foundation and skill Much as we love Mickey Mouse,
set to give them confidence Warren Turner works as freelance rocket launches at Cape Canaveral
in the workplace.’ Kingsway is EFL teacher and Ielts trainer. and reruns of CSI Miami, this month’s
disciplinary action goes to the state of Florida,
are no waiting lists to take the test 75% USA.
Why? Well, the Sunshine State wants
their doors in December and, as
to override a law that says it must include
Ms Gardiner points out, ‘There
learners (ELLs) in school quality measures.
in any test locations.’ But would it Proportion of all the results of its 300,000 English language
be fair to say that, currently, there nurses worldwide Under Obama’s Every Student Succeeds
may not be enough accredited who sit Ielts and Act (ESSA), including ELL’s progress in
training centres and teachers to English in school ratings is mandatory.
meet demand? fail to reach the Civil rights leaders are incensed that Florida
She pointed to the wealth grades required to practise in the UK
of readily available online It focuses on teachers moving is seeking to exclude
preparation materials, some free away from test preparation ELLs, as only 56 per
of charge, which are suitable courses that are aimed at test cent of them graduate
for self-study. That is not to say cramming or coaching in favour from high school,
that language teachers will find of courses which encourage the compared to 76 per
themselves missing out on work building of language skills and cent of their native-
if nurses favour the new test over learning outcomes.’ speaker peers.
Ielts. That preparation course is,
‘We believe that teachers however, strictly limited to But will their rage
will in fact have a greater role teachers affiliated to schools prompt Trump’s
for preparation than with non- with OET accreditation, and education secretary
profession specific tests,’ Ms requires fifty hours of online study. Betsy DeVos to block
Gardiner said. Unfortunately, there may never Florida’s move?
‘OET has introduced a be enough specialist teachers on Commentators
training course for providers, the hand to ensure that it delivers the are not hopeful.
Preparation Provider Programme. expected higher pass rates.
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