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

Yes, I meant the students in Mexico that plan to study in the US...I could have stated that a bit better.

Dragonlady · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 1:50 am Post subject:

Actually, what I was alluding to when I wrote this

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

Dragonlady · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 4:17 am Post subject:

MotherF · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 3:36 pm Post subject:

I don't have internet at home so I don't use it on the weekends--especially holiday weekends. I'm sorry that makes some people think I'm not invested in the profession. Shocked

Our program uses the Cambridge ESOL exams as a means of evaluation. We are often asked why.

Because they are external.
Because they are international.
Because they are aligned with the ALTE (Association of Language Testers in Europe for those of you who have problems with acronyms) can do statements, whic clear discriptors (an employer can look at and see exactly what a candidate with that level can be expected to do in their foreign language.)
Because they cover the four major skills.
Because they come in a wide range of levels (unlike the TOEFL).

It is also fairly easy to get materials geared towards preparing students for the Cambridge exams.

Professor · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 449 Location: Mexico City

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

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

MotherF · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:22 pm Post subject:

Yeah, the TOEFL is an exam designed to test if a student would be able to do university level study in English.
The majority of the students entering public universities in the state of Oaxaca have little or no English ablity. We are interesting in implenting an exit requirement based on the iBT TOEFL and have done peliminary work to become a iBT TOEFL test center. But by using the Cambridge main suit of exams we can use the KET standard for beginners, the PET for lower intermediate and the FCE for upper intermediate. There is no point giving an elementary student the TOEFL.

In the old paper based system a student who recieved a pass in the FCE would be expected to get about a 500 on the TOEFL.

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

And do you know how TOEFL incorporates the speaking sections of their new integrated iBT exams? Does someone come to the test site? I've looked at the ETS website, but haven't been able to find any specific information on this. Also, it looks like the TOEFL is divided into 2 different tests: Listening & Reading, Speaking & Writing. I'm just in the beginning stages of really discovering how exactly the test functions.

MotherF, what do you think of the Cambridge exams in terms of content? Overly academic, practical, well-rounded, etc?

MotherF · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:58 pm Post subject:

mejms · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 390

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

MotherF · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 9:33 pm Post subject:

Guy, I'm pretty sure it is done in India! At least that's where the people who run the trail runs which are part of becoming a test center are based.

mejms, I'm American, but I've lived most of my adult life abroad, so I don't really have any problem using British materials. Actually, I prefer it in many ways as I feel it balances out my teaching. Reminds me to say, X is more common in the UK, Y in the US. Things like that.
What I HATE is that in their Internationalization, Cambridge has gotten brits to FAKE American accents--usually a Texas or New York accent--on the recordings. Rolling Eyes

Surely they could find some American theatre student in London who could use some extra cash to do the recordings for cheap.

Isla Guapa · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject:

MotherF, I wonder about how you deal with British English in the classroom. Is it incorporated all along, or is it just dealt with when students are specifically preparing to take the Cambridge exam.