The Linguist

30 The Linguist Vol/62 No/2 thelinguist.uberflip.com INSTITUTE MATTERS The Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) encourages the learning of all languages in support of our motto 'universal understanding'. We strive to reverse the deficit in language skills in the UK at a time when global demand for such skills is expanding. We know that those who rely on English alone, and do not embrace the learning of other languages, inevitably deny themselves the opportunity to fully access other cultures through language. However, with around 1.6 billion people worldwide who speak English to a useful level and are not first-language English speakers, CIOL, as the global professional body for linguists, also wants to support adult learners of English in line with our Royal Charter purpose: To contribute towards international goodwill by encouraging the effective study and practice of languages. English has become the default 'operating system' of much of the global conversation. Mastery of the language contributes directly to an individual's economic potential and is becoming a core criterion shaping employability. English has become a lingua franca for many international businesses as well as in academia. As David Crystal OBE FCIL, CIOL Vice- President and expert on the English language, puts it: "Bilingualism lets you have your cake and eat it. The new language opens the doors to the best jobs in society; the old language allows you to keep your sense of 'who you are'. It preserves your identity. With two languages, you have the best of both worlds." Dom Hebblethwaite outlines CIOL Certified English, a new initiative for advanced learners of English to test and prove their spoken language skills CIOL Certified English It is with this in mind that CIOL has introduced the Certified English speaking test for 2023. Certified English offers advanced speakers of English as a second or additional language the opportunity to prove their English skills according to international standards and CIOL's Language Level Frameworks. In so doing, they demonstrate that they meet the standard to become a CIOL Working English Speaker and, for those with outstanding skills, the 'gold standard' designation: CIOL Professional English Speaker. CIOL's Certified English is not for immigration or university entrance purposes. Instead it is for adults who want to prove their high standard of English speaking skills to themselves or to employers. It can unlock greater confidence and enrich career opportunities for the successful candidate. Employers and other interested parties will understand that, if a candidate is successful, they can be entrusted with important liaison, representation, presentation and negotiation roles which depend on outstanding English communication skills. The Professional English Speaker designation gives employers a way of verifying a candidate's abilities, while giving the candidate greater credibility when seeking to advance their career or work with international clients. Focusing on the interaction skills that are so important for interpersonal communication, the test provides a formal means to achieve recognition, certification and validation of Global English: the gold standard good or excellent spoken English through the UK's international Chartered body for linguists. Those who achieve outstanding results will receive a skills score according to the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) at C1 level or above and a CIOL Professional English Speaker certificate. Those who do not meet CIOL's professional 'gold standard' but still demonstrate a high level of competence in spoken English will receive a CIOL Working English Speaker certificate equivalent to B2 level. Based on CIOL's extensive language testing activities, we believe that the surest way to assess high-level English speaking interaction skills is with an expert human assessor, who can evaluate how you speak, listen, engage and react as you would in a real professional or working situation. CIOL Certified English evaluates speaking and communicative skills in a real-world context with a real-world assessor, so candidates can be confident of a realistic confirmation of their level of spoken English. There are no multiple-choice questions based on a recording or video, and your speaking skills will not be assessed through AI or recorded messages. This is a test of human-to-human interaction. Therefore success demonstrates proven speaking skills to any employer, client, partner or stakeholder, leading to enhanced career prospects in many international settings.

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