Hey all, Just had to share my amazing experience with spoken English classes in Pune! At sevenmentor Institute, I discovered the power of effective communication. Friendly instructors tailored lessons to our needs, focusing on grammar, vocab, and pronunciation. Engaging group discussions boosted my confidence big time! Practical exercises like debates and public speaking honed my skills, while cross-cultural awareness expanded my horizons. Listening and writing improved too!
Some kind of language assessment is warranted, but it could be implemented differently. Lots of people taking these tests are native speakers or have obtained an education at an English/French-speaking institution. I’d be in favour of either lengthening the test’s validity or waiving it for those who can prove English or French proficiency through other experience. The two-year expiry for formal language tests is too restrictive, in my view.
IELTS, CELPIP and TOEFL are all in it to make money - they benefit from a two-year expiry. They don’t even guarantee proficiency, rather they just prove someone can take a test. I remember reading that it takes at least two IELTS tests on average to achieve a score of 6.5 or higher, so that’s at least $500 in testing costs, plus study guides and classes.
The only reason they have legitimatacy is because they are a gatekeeper for many who apply to post-secondary or for PR. UBC is actually the developer of CELPIP under Paragon Testing Enterprises (they sold it in 2021), so it is clearly a money spinner.
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