AUSTRALIAN universities will have to monitor the English language competence of overseas students later this year. They are to keep track of whether their academics are happy with the English language standards of new students, and whether employers are satisfied with the language and communication skills of graduates. The committee that ran the project for the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is considering whether to recommend uniform levels of required English language competence for overseas students.
ETS offers TOEFL Star Performer certificates
美国教育考试服务中心新推托福星级考生计划
EDUCATIONAL Testing Service (ETS) plans to launch a pilot program that offers TOEFL Star Performer certificates for students who have taken the test in India, South Korea and Taiwan. The certificates will be made available at three levels — gold, silver and bronze. Test takers achieving a minimum TOEFL iBT total score of 110 and a minimum section score of 25 will be designated gold-level star performers. Those with a total score of 100 and minimum section scores of 22 will be designated silver-level star performers, while students with a total score of 90 and minimum section scores of 21 will be recognized as bronze-level star performers.
English programs needed in Malaysia
马来西亚教育部门建议高校开展英语培训活动
THE Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education has proposed having local universities provide special English programs for students before graduation. Deputy minister Datuk Idris Haron said reports received by the ministry showed that most local graduates were unemployed because of poor proficiency in English. He said that student affairs and academic divisions at universities should provide special English programs for their students, at least six months before their graduation. This is intended to ensure that they are competent in the language.
