English Speaking Board International offer both EFL type exams for the international market and fully accredited ESOL SfL at Entry 1 through to Level 2 in Sp/Lr, plus the non-accredited Pre Entry Getting Ready for Skills for Life (criteria for which are marked against Entry 1 curriculum references but obviously with a lower expectation of achievement). Their E1-L2 exams are accepted by the Home Office as proof of prgression. I am sure these exams are on the list of accepted certificates. As for the Pre entry exam, that does not appear on the official list, but as I said I have had numerous students, at times in the past, use this as proof of progression - of course alongside their Citizenship letter from the college. I am at a new college now where we do not use these for our pre entry learners but I have heard from colleagues at my previous college that the Pre Entry certificate was not being accepted any longer. It does still provide an examination for those learners who are not quite ready to take the E1 exam; it gives them a great boost!
 
Alex Halliday
Lecturer in ESOL Matthew Boulton College


Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:03:27 +0100
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Citizenship/ ILR Home Office criteria.
To: [log in to unmask]

It's English Speaking Board, isn't it? I think they have to do a pre-prepared presentation to the group and then the examiner and other students ask questions. They're a serious organisation but, when we used to use them, they weren't based on the SfL syllabus in any way.
Matt

>>> linda duckenfield <[log in to unmask]> 26/06/2008 23:21 >>>
I haven't heard of ESB.  Our checking service provide a list of those external certificates deemed acceptable, and I don't think, but will check, that this is one.
Perhaps we should compile some data about all these rotten paid courses.

--- On Thu, 6/26/08, Isabel Arnold <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

From: Isabel Arnold <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Citizenship/ ILR Home Office criteria.
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008, 3:51 PM

Does it make any difference which awarding body is used?
A student of mine has achieved  ESB E1 speaking and listening at a training agency after 8 x 2 hr lessons which were not free. I have seen the certificate which has no mention of the training agency. This certificate was enough - according to her sister in law. Apparently the whole class sat round a table while the examiner asked them a set of questions for personal information in turn.
Meanwhile I have not entered her for C&G E1 S&L as her spoken English is not good enough. She cannot ask for information or join in a simple conversation.
Now I am concerned about the ESB standards.
Isabel Arnold
 




> Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:22:00 +0100
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Citizenship/ ILR Home Office criteria.
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> At the sheffield College We have a similar letter to the one sent by Lindy. It seems that those learners who have submitted an Entry One Certificate are the ones asked for progression evidence. We need some clarification from the Home Office, I think.
> fatma
>
> >>> Judith Boardman <[log in to unmask]> 12/06/2008 15:51 >>>
> I understood that whilst needing an external S&L Entry level certificate, learners (via the certificate) also had to show that they had progressed one level in S&L from their orginal starting point (diagnostic assessment). Have I misunderstood this?
>
> Judith Boardman
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: linda duckenfield
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 3:28 PM
> Subject: Re: Citizenship/ ILR Home Office criteria.
>
>
> It is reasonably straightforward. (Well, I say straightforward, but if I happened to be trying to make sense of it in Mandarin, having lived in a Mandarin speaking environment for a few years, I'd struggle.)
>
> As you say, those deemed to have achieved all skills at E3 and working to L1 and above need to do the on-line test.
>
> Anyone else, including those who have eg. not done E3 reading/writing need an up-to-date, (academic year at time of applying) listening and speaking external certificate at any E level, (eg. Trinity, Cambridge, City and Guilds) and a headed notepaper letter from the organisation where they have studied for this, saying that this qualification has been gained whilst using materials incorporating citizenship topics from the curriculum pack. This letter needs to be formally worded, and I haven't got the text in front of me, but will post it on this e-list in near future.
>
> The lucky thing about this, is that it does leave us with a fair amount of latitude in what we deliver.
>
> However, we all need to be aware that the Home Office can and do change their stipulations, and that when this blessed green paper goes through, there may be changes from November. None, as far as i'm aware though, are actually mooted for the language and culture criteria.
>
> If anyone is doing courses to meet students' needs in this area, it's also good to make contact with your local checking service (here in Sheffield for example this is part of the local registry office, ) to iron out any ambiguities, and make sure that what you're providing students with is hunky-dory. You can find details of local checking services via the Home Office website - again not in front of me but easy to google.
>
> What's this critique you're doing Dawn?
>
> Cheers, Linda
>
> --- On Thu, 6/12/08, Dawn van den Berg <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> From: Dawn van den Berg <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: ESOL Res Grp meeting Materials 26 June
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Thursday, June 12, 2008, 8:48 AM
>
>
> I have a question about the fundamental eligibility of what levels should be taking the citizenship test.
>
> In 200 NIACE/LLU produced a FAQ sheet. Included was a response to the question 'Do all citizens have to take the citizenship test?' it stated
>
> 'Not all citizens will need to do the Citizenship Test. All would-be
> Citizens whose english English is considered to be at or above E3 (ie
> who would be assessed as needing to work toward L1 or above that
> level will need to do the citizenship Test once it is available.'
>
> I took this to mean established E3 students ie those who are consolidated at E3 have passed their exams and are now working toward L1 or when initially assessed would be considered a L1 learner, must take the citizenship test. It then continues:
>
> 'All would-be citizens whose English is considered to be below E3
> must take a Skills for Life qualification in speaking and
> listening.....'
>
> Taking the former statement into consideration I interpreted the latter statement below E3 to mean any learner who wasn't an established E3 student, i.e. currently pursuing their E3 qualification or any levels below E3 don't need to take the citizenship test.
>
> Is my interpretation correct?
>
> It has never made sense to me why there was a fuss about all why government resources were aimed at L1 and above. It should be if the exams are aimed at learners who are established E3/students working toward L1.
>
> I have attached the FAQ factsheet for your attention and would love to have your responses as I would like to plan/run a citizenship workshop and write a critique of a book about citizenship and ESOL and can't do this until I have clarity over this fundamental question that has been bugging me for 3 years. Thank you.
>
>
>
> Dawn van den Berg
> ESOL & Numeracy Tutor
>
>
> > Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:27:55 +0100
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: ESOL Res Grp meeting Materials 26 June
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > ESOL Research Group at Leeds
> > The next meeting of the ESOL Research Group will take place on
> > Thursday 26 June 2008
> > Time: 5.30-7.30 pm
> > Place: Room 1.24, Hillary Place Building, School of Education,
> > University of Leeds
> > *****
> > ESOL Materials: From global coursebooks to knit your own worksheets
> > Michael Rodden (Leeds Metropolitan University)
> > James Simpson (University of Leeds)
> > Mary Weir (Park Lane College, Leeds)
> > *****
> > The next meeting of the ESOL Research Group will be about materials for
> > teaching and learning ESOL. The session will be in two parts:
> > * Three short presentations on aspects of ESOL materials
> > design and use
> > * General discussion about forming a local ESOL materials
> > writing group
> > In the first part of the meeting:
> > Michael Rodden (Leeds Metropolitan University) will give an overview of
> > the principles of materials design and evaluation.
> > James Simpson (University of Leeds) will talk about materials used in
> > ESOL classrooms from the 1970s to today.
> > Mary Weir will discuss the use of materials in contemporary ESOL
> > classes, from the perspective of a teacher and teacher-educator.
> > The second part of the meeting will be an opportunity to air your views
> > about ESOL materials, and to join the discussion about the desirability
> > and feasibility of a materials writing group devoted to the production
> > of locally-appropriate ESOL materials.
> > *****
> > As with all ESOL Research Group meetings, time will be set aside for
> > more informal discussion of current ESOL issues.
> > All are welcome. If you plan to come, just send an email to James
> > Simpson: [log in to unmask] And please feel free to
> > forward this message to others. A flier is attached.
> > <<Flier meeting 260608.doc>>
> > Details of this meeting can be found on the ESOL Research website:
> > http://www.personal.leeds.ac.uk/~edujsi/
> > *****
> > The ESOL Research Group is open to anyone with an interest in research
> > into ESOL in the Skills for Life context in the UK, and who is within
> > striking distance of the University of Leeds. This includes - but is not
> > limited to - current students, ESOL researchers, practitioners currently
> > carrying out research, practitioners who are planning to carry out
> > research, and those who have been involved in previous ESOL research.
> > How to get to the university:
> > http://www.leeds.ac.uk/visitors/getting_here.htm
> > How to get to Hillary Place: Hillary Place is close to the Parkinson
> > Building (with the white clock tower). As you face the Parkinson steps,
> > it is down the hill to your left, and on the left, opposite the old
> > church. Hillary Place is a row of red-brick terraced houses.
> > Have a look at the map at:
> > http://webprod2.leeds.ac.uk/campusmap/index.asp
> >
> >
> > ***********************************
> > ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds.
> > To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
> > http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html
> > A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at:
> > http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm
> > To contact the list owner, send an email to
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >
> >
> *********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html A quick guide to using Jiscmail lists can be found at: http://jiscmail.ac.uk/help/using/quickuser.htm To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask]
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