Page 42 - ELG2011 Nov Issue 473

INTERVIEW .

Fast-track your 12 to 16 year olds’ English

language certification

English teacher Ana Isabel Vázquez talks about the new version of the
Oxford Test of English designed specifically for younger students THE OXFORD TEST OF
ENGLISH IS CERTIFIED BY
THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Introducing Ana and her students
Teacher Ana Isabel Vázquez uses the Oxford
Test of English, “to motivate my students to
find the confidence to keep learning and OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
using English.”
Nerea, 16, one of Ana’s students, says:
“English will help me get a job, go abroad,
learn about other cultures, and be able to
communicate with people around the globe.
That’s fantastic.”
Now Ana is excited for a version of the
University of Oxford certified test that is
designed specifically for younger students – as
she says, “a test adapted to give them the
best start on their English journey.”
“The younger we are able to test children’s
English, the farther they will be able to take
their language learning.”
“It makes me so proud to see the students
develop, learn, and feel more confident in
how they use English to communicate.”
The new Oxford Test of English for Ana Isabel Vázquez teaching at Colegio Nuestra Señora del Pila, in Madrid, Spain
Schools will assess 12 to 16 year olds’ abilities
in Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening. feel really comfortable and confident,” says
Listening and Reading modules are adaptive, The younger we Ana. It makes me so proud to see
so the difficulty adjusts in response to are able to test “My biggest hope is that the children
students’ answers, while the Speaking and maintain their English and use it throughout
Writing modules use task randomization. children’s English, the their lives. Our objective is to give them the
Robin Lee, Senior Assessment Manager, ability to have a conversation, to be able to the students develop, learn, and
Oxford University Press says, “This farther they will be communicate – we don’t drill grammar here...
personalized experience makes the test able to take their we just want them to love English as much as
shorter, less stressful, and more precise than we do!” feel more confident in how they
traditional proficiency tests.” language learning. And it seems they already do. Maria, 16,
“Because a 12-year-old doesn’t want to says, “Knowing English helps me when I
write about work or finance,” Ana explains: and most young people are going to travel to other countries; for now, I can
“The Oxford Test of English for Schools will understand me, which gives me the freedom understand other cultures and communicate use English to communicate.
have content adapted to suit children’s to travel and know I’ll be understood,” says with people, but maybe speaking English will
interests and life experience. It’ll cover Fernando, 16. also help me get a job when I leave school.”
topics like free time and what they did at the Like many institutions worldwide, Ana’s Ana believes the Oxford Test of English is,
weekend.” school, Colegio Nuestra Señora del Pila, has “a great starting point for showing future
It’s a change her students welcome. become an Oxford Test of English Approved generations that they are our hope and that An affordable, personalized test that fits you and your
Veronica, 16, says “We like to answer Test Centre, meaning they can offer the test they can conquer the world. Being able to
questions about friendship, free time, cinema, securely within their computer room. speak English will open doors for them and students. 100% online, it’s flexible and fast, with content
culture – things that affect all of society.” “It only takes two hours, and the results set them on their journey to success.”
“I like that I can speak English everywhere are ready in 14 days, which makes everyone To find out how to fast-track your 12 to 16 tailored to suit the interests and experiences of 12 to 16
year olds’ English language certification click
4 skills The test consists of 4 modules: Speaking, Listening, Reading, here. year olds. Available at Approved Test Centres worldwide.
and Writing. They can be taken or re-taken together, on their
own, or in any combination.
3 levels The test is aligned to the Common European Framework of Ana Isabel
Vázquez
Reference (CEFR) across 3 levels: find out whether your
students are at A2, B1, or B2. teaches Your dream.
2 hours The test is available all year round and takes just 2 hours. English at
Colegio Nuestra
Listening and Reading results are available on test day, while
Speaking and Writing results are ready within 14 days. Señora del Pila, Your journey.
in Madrid,
1 test The only language proficiency test certified by the University of Spain.
Oxford, with results valid for life.
Your test .
42 November 2020