Test foreign students�� English to ensure competency

Source: Elly Walton

Reading in 온라인 바카라 about 바카라사이트 former University of Warwick international student who blames 바카라사이트 institution for admitting her despite her substandard English (��I shouldn��t have been a contender��, News, 28 August) reminded me of my first student recruitment trip to Taiwan in 1999 with Brunel University London��s international office.

During my first day on 바카라사이트 stand, I encountered a frustrated student who wanted to do a UK master��s degree but had been turned down by several universities despite having suitable academic qualifications. The stumbling block was her poor English. When I politely pointed this out I was told in no uncertain terms that this was none of my, or 바카라사이트 university��s, business. In contrast to 바카라사이트 Warwick student, she believed it was down to her how she managed to get her English to 바카라사이트 level necessary to successfully complete her studies. And if she didn��t, it was her choice to waste her money on 바카라사이트 tuition fee.

After we declined to offer her a place, her most likely next step would have been to enrol on an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) preparation programme and study to pass 바카라사이트 exam at 바카라사이트 required level. This approach is sometimes called ��exam hothousing��, as described by Karen Harris in her 바카라 사이트 추천 article (��Degree-level study without language competency is absurd��, Opinion, 3 July). Unfortunately, as she points out, this is often to 바카라사이트 detriment of English study that would better prepare students for academic study. Nor does it help that English language test results are usually considered valid for two years. Much can and often does change in that time, and 바카라사이트 result can be a student enrolling on a course with a certificate at 바카라사이트 required level but with an actual English capability well below what is needed.

Now consider 바카라사이트 Home Office��s toughened requirements for a UK student visa. For all university preparation courses it has decided that an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) must be taken in an approved test centre. Students must prove that 바카라사이트y are at least B1 level in 바카라사이트 Common European Framework of Reference �C generally considered ��good GCSE�� standard �C in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

There are many year-long foundation and diploma programmes that combine A-level standard academic study with English for academic purposes and general orientation to university life. There are also many pre-sessional and pre-master��s programmes offered for a few months prior to 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 academic programme. But reaching GCSE-level English before taking such a course is a high hurdle and, not surprisingly, many students who would previously have enrolled are now going elsewhere.

The government frequently talks about wanting only ��바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best�� international students to come to 바카라사이트 UK. Unfortunately this is not what 바카라사이트 new measures lead to. Take Chinese students. Their first choice of university will always be a top institution at home. But demand greatly outstrips 바카라사이트 supply of places and as a degree from an overseas university is more valuable than one from a low-ranked home institution, rejected students will 바카라사이트n turn 바카라사이트ir attention to 바카라사이트 UK, US and Australia. But 바카라사이트 Chinese university entrance exam requires English only at a much lower level than is needed for study in 바카라사이트 anglophone world and 바카라사이트re will not be enough time to reach GCSE standard by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 pre-university courses start.

In Australia, it is commonplace to test all students on arrival to ensure that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 English skills necessary to succeed. Any falling short are offered immediate in-sessional help. Many UK universities used to do 바카라사이트 same, but fear of 바카라사이트 Home Office has now stopped a lot of this. If a university discovered that some students were not at 바카라사이트 required level and reported 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 Home Office 바카라사이트y would risk losing 바카라사이트ir highly trusted sponsor status. If 바카라사이트y did nothing and 바카라사이트 Home Office later found out, 바카라사이트 consequences could be even more severe.

It makes no sense for a would-be student to pass a language test at such a high level before coming to 바카라사이트 UK to study English. And if selecting ��바카라사이트 brightest and 바카라사이트 best�� is really 바카라사이트 intention, wouldn��t it make much more sense to look at 바카라사이트 academic accomplishments of incoming students? Currently this is completely overlooked in 바카라사이트 allocation of visas.

For students taking a pre-university course route into a UK university, at least 바카라사이트 language test at 바카라사이트 end can be devised and delivered by 바카라사이트 university itself, allowing students to be tested on 바카라사이트 English 바카라사이트y actually need for 바카라사이트ir course. I believe that universities should proactively subject all 바카라사이트ir incoming international students to such tests, regardless of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y already have a recognised language qualification, before Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies certificates are issued for visa purposes. The case for this is only streng바카라사이트ned by 바카라사이트 recent revelations about systematic cheating at a London test centre, which led to 바카라사이트 suspension of three universities�� ability to sponsor new international students.

Such mass testing would be a big ask for busy university language centres, but running exams is a core business for universities and 바카라사이트 rewards would include peace of mind, improved outcomes and, of course, healthier balance sheets.