Job Discussion Forums

[vre]

I know that in Greece Cambridge certification, which used to be very popular, is losing popularity and the Michigan exams are now widespread (ECCE and ECPE). The reason being is that it is much easier to get the ECCE than the FCE and the ECPE than the CPE. In Greece, as long as you have one of them, your chances of getting a job increase considerably (even though most holders of these certificates have a very low level of English but passed through 'learning how to pass'.

However, I have spoken to many people about the Michigan exams and most people claim never to have heard of them. Have you? Or do you have them where you teach?

[moonraven]

I am familiar with them. They are given every year here in Mexico--at various locations which have been approved as official exam centers. They are very similar to the TOEFL. I have had a number of students who took the TOEFL prep course and then sat for the Michigan and passed it.

[teacheringreece]

I think it must be only Mexico and Greece then. Any idea if they're recognised by the Mexican government? Here in Greece they're considered (officially) to be on a level with the Cambridge exams, and government-recognised qualifications are very important here.

My view is that they're unstandardised and badly designed. Incredibly even the University of Michigan doesn't accept the Michican Proficiency exam as an English Language qualification for applications.

[moonraven]

I do not have any idea what you mean when you ask if they are "recognized by the Mexican government".

The folks who take exams such as TOEFL or Michigan here at official testing centers are doing so because they want to be admitted to US universities.

[teacheringreece]

I don't think it's so taxing a question. Is it recognised as a valid EFL qualification by the Mexican government, as it is by the Greek government?

Like I said, even the University of Michigan doesn't accept the exams as evidence of competency in English for applicants, so I'd be interested to know which (if any) other American universities do.

[moonraven]

The Mexican government has nothing to do with certifying folks' competency in any language.

As for US universities, their requirements for scores on the TOEFL and other exams are determined by the indivdual institutions. Hence, sudents would be well advised to check the web sites of the universities which interest them to see what the requirements are.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[teacheringreece]

"I imagine with the right amount of money paper-clipped to almost any English proficiency certificate, one could find a government official who would recognize it quickly and easily."

Wow, and I thought it was corrupt here! It's a bit more clear cut here because the government issues documents listing the various qualifications that are considered sufficient for a person to work as an English teacher, or be eligible for a position within the state. Some time ago they decided the Michigan exams were on the same level as the Cambridge ones, which is quite obviously ridiculous if you compare the exams, and more revealingly the students that pass them. It's rather worrying that someone with the Michigan ECPE can instantly becomean English teacher or school owner - puts the inadequacy of CELTA training into perspective really.

Recently the government has confused the issue by declaring that any exam from a government-recognised examining board of any EU country is valid in Greece. So now students have started taking all sorts of obscure British exams that nobody has ever heard of. It won't help them to get a job where an employer would actually want them to use English, or get into university abroad, but for a state job the qualifications are considered valid.