{"id":17380,"date":"2017-07-20T13:11:36","date_gmt":"2017-07-20T11:11:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.targettraining.eu\/?p=17380"},"modified":"2018-06-06T12:29:17","modified_gmt":"2018-06-06T10:29:17","slug":"language-tests-really-best-way-assess-employees-business-english-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targettraining.eu\/de\/language-tests-really-best-way-assess-employees-business-english-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Are language tests really the best way to assess your employees business English skills?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a department manager asks us to \u201ctest their employee\u2019s business English<\/em>\u201d there are typically 2 reasons \u2013 they want to know if somebody is suitable for a specific job, or they are looking for evidence that somebody has improved their business English. In both cases we fully understand the need for the information \u2013 and we often find ourselves challenging the idea of a \u201ctest\u201d. HR & L&D, line managers, business English providers, teachers and participants are all familiar with the idea of tests \u2013 we\u2019ve all been doing them since we started school \u2013 but as a business tool they have clear limits.\u00a0<\/strong>
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Are language tests really the best fit for purpose when it comes to corporate English training?<\/h2>\n

At the heart of these limits is the question \u201cdoes the test really reflect the purpose?\u201d.\u00a0 These limits were highlighted in a recent newspaper article \u201cDifficulty of NHS language test \u2018worsens nurse crisis\u2019\u201d.<\/a>\u00a0The article focuses on the shortage of nurses applying for work in the UK, and behind this shortage are 2 factors: firstly the inevitable (and avoidable) uncertainty created by Brexit, and secondly that qualified and university-educated nurses who are native English speakers from countries such as Australia and New Zealand are failing to pass the English language test the NHS uses. One of the nurses said:\u201cAfter being schooled here in Australia my whole life, passing high school with very good scores, including English, then passing university and graduate studies with no issues in English writing \u2013 now to \u2018fail\u2019 IELTS [the English language test] is baffling.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

To be clear there is nothing wrong with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)<\/a> per se. It is one of the most robust English language tests available, and is a multi-purpose tool used for work, study and migration. The test has four elements: speaking, listening, reading and writing.\u00a0 My question is \u201cIs this really the best way to assess whether a nurse can do her job effectively in English?\u201d<\/p>\n

Design assessment approaches to be as close to your business reality as possible<\/h2>\n

We all want nurses who can speak, listen, read and write in the language of the country they are working in \u2013 but is a general off-the-shelf solution really the best way?\u00a0 What does a nurse need to write?\u00a0 Reports, notes, requests \u2013 yes \u2026essays \u2013 no.\u00a0 Yet that is what was being \u201ctested\u201d. One nurse with 11 years experience in mental health, intensive care, paediatrics, surgical procedures and orthopaedics commented: \u201cThe essay test was to discuss whether TV was good or bad for children. They\u2019re looking for how you structure the essay \u2026 I wrote essays all the time when I was doing my bachelor of nursing. I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d have to do another one. I don\u2019t even know why I failed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jumping from nursing to our corporate clients, our InCorporate Trainers <\/a>work in-house, training business English skills with managers in such diverse fields as software development, automotive manufacturing, oil and gas, logistics, purchasing etc etc . All these managers need to speak, read, write and listen and they need to do these within specific business-critical contexts such as meetings, negotiations, presentations, emails, reports etc. So how do we assess their skills? The key is in designing assessment approaches which are as close to their business reality as possible.<\/p>\n

Using business specific can-do statements to assess what people can do in their jobs<\/h2>\n

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)<\/strong><\/a> is a scale indicating language competency. It offers an excellent start for all business English programs. BUT the CEFR does have 2 major drawbacks when it comes to business English:<\/p>\n