Job Discussion Forums

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Just had a call from a girl who's after classes for exam preparation. She did the First Certificate a while ago and didn't do very well and wants to take it again. I don't know anything about FCE and only have experience teaching IELTS. I'm guessing that if she did badly in FCE her level is not very high so IELTS is pretty much out the window.

What are the other options and would you recommend them? TOEFL, Proficiency etc? I'm meeting her tomorrow afternoon and would like to be able offer her a few options. She's just finished high school and i think wants to do the exams so she'll have shiny certificates to boast about on her CV, rather than for a specific purpose.

Many thanks for your suggestions,

Matt

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

TOEIC is alright if she wants to do some speaking on the test. If she's a writer/reader, then TOEFL would be good.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

She's a bit old for PET--mostly that is taken by 12-15 year olds--at least in this country.

TOEFL is a good choice of an exam--if one has been studying--but if she hasn't really been studying she will fail the structure/vocabulary and listening sections. Which may not help her self-esteem.

I agree that taking classes--TOEFL prep classes if she has at lest the level to be placed in them.

dyak · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 630

If she wants to take the FCE and pass, she has two options:

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

Cheers guys, i forgot to add that she willing to do 2-3 months of classes. Not sure how many hours a week, probably 2-4. I reckon i could get her up to scratch as long as she takes it seriously and does the work outside of lessons...here's hoping, i could do with the hours.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

How do you know your students have become proficient in English?

1. They keep correcting you in class and you let them.

2. You ask them for grammar advice like how to use the future perfect. (Yup, there is such a thing.)

3. They keep referring to you in class as "dude or sh*thead".

4. They know how to overuse the word "like" saying things like, "Like, Mike like do you like pike? Like."

5. They used the word F*ck for the first time in their English learning careers and it made them giddy.

6. They mangle the North American accent by saying things like, "Yo, yo, less go home sheet and wash my TV or go to some bar and get some pucken cat".

7 They watch Friends, understand some of the jokes and tell you the next day in class in the most unfunny way. You, of course, being the master of fake smiles stretch your mouth until you can chew on your earlobes.

They deserve that piece of paper, wouldn't you say?

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Afra · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 389

I'm interested in Moonraven's idea that students can be too old for PET. All my students are adults and will be doing PET in a couple of weeks.
In the UK, PET was often the first of the Cambridge suite which students sat and then they went on to do FCE, etc.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The PET is a level based exam, not an age based one. As it is intended for those who have studied English for around three years a large group of those taking it will now be in the age group Moonraven specifies.

The difference between PET and FCE is about two to three years study (at an average study rate of four hours classes a week). Obviously different students and nationalities will get different mileage.

If she has failed FCE badly then she will need at least a whole year of classes (plus home reading and study) to get to the level. Even marginal failures need from September to the resit in January.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I think one of the advantages of taking PET -- maybe the main advantage, since a PET certificate really doesn't count for much -- is the experience of becoming familiar with the format of the higher level exams: FCE and CAE.

Matt, you stated that the girl in question wants to re-take the FCE and wants you to help her prepare for it. It could be a situation where her general language skills just aren't up to the level of FCE. It could also be that she has an adequate skill level but needs lots of practice in how to take the exam. For students (and their teachers) who are only familiar with TOEFL or some other specific proficiency exam, praparing for the FCE can be quite different, in my opinion.

There's a lot of decent material out there to help prepare for FCE. If you have access to material, try to find something that includes test-taking stategies and practice tests.

If you ever plan to teach a preparation for FCE course, I'd also suggest attending an initial training session for becoming an oral examiner for the FCE if possible. Even if you never become an official examiner, it would give you a great deal of insight regarding how candidates' oral proficiency is evaluated on the exam.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:29 pm Post subject:

Maybe it all has to do with level assesment. How badly did she fail the FCE, and why? Nerves, exam technique, or actual level in the language.
If it's to do with one of the first two, you should be able to get her in shape in a couple of months, but if it's just her level, probably not.

Most of the major exams out there have been mentioned, so I won't repeat, but I will add one. Trinity exams. If there is a center for them near where you are, they can be great confidence builders. They offer a lot of different levels. (1-10 or 12, I think) A good portion of the speaking is also a prepared presentation, which suits some students better than other formats.

Good Luck,

Justin

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124