Discussion Groups / ESL Teaching / August 2005

Hi, Silverblue,

I work in Greece and prepare students for Cambridge ESOL exams, among
others.

It seems that you've made your mind up already, doesn't it?

Cambridge ESOL believes that you should have studied English for about
500-600 hours before you sit for an FCE examination. The guidelines for
CAE are not as straightforward.

Here's how you check where you're at. You can download a Handbook for
CAE at www.cambridgeesol.com. It contains specifications for all levels
and samples of all five papers in it. The sample paper is, more or
less, at the level of the real Advanced examination.

You will be able to do the Reading, Writing, and English in Use papers.
The online Handbook does not, when I last checked, come with the taped
version of the Listening test, but it does have the tapescript. You
will, of course, not be able to do the Speaking test without a partner
and at least a single examiner.

There is nothing stopping you from checking your skills on Reading and
English in Use under mock examination conditions, however, since the
Handbook also has the answers for those sample papers in it. If you
score somewhere around sixty percent on those two, and don't feel that
the Listening and Writing test would be a real problem (and judging
from the writing sample that you've sent in, with real preparation your
writing will be at CAE level), sign up for the CAE prep class.

There are a number of other ways to check your level of English. I'm
surprised, for instance, that the institute that you have chosen to
attend did not offer to give you a placement test when you walked
through the door with these questions. That is not a good sign.

Make damned sure that your instructor knows what there is to know about
CAE. High-stakes test-prep is very much a business, and often, the
wrong kind of people get into it. The institute you choose and your
instructor will be getting paid a good amount of money to prepare you
for the examination, and a good test-prep instructor lives with three
copies of the specifications of the test they are preparing students
around: one in a bookshelf at home, one in a bookshelf at work, and one
next to their bed. If the person standing up in the front of the room
doesn't take the job seriously (and most don't), the class will not be
worth your time or money.

You should be able to ascertain this in the first week. Pay attention
to how the instructor answers questions about the specific form of the
examinations. Read your specifications and ask a question based on a
specific point. The best ones welcome such questions as an opportunity
to show off their knowledge. The worst ones twist their faces in
disgust and make excuses for not knowing, and then tell you that you
shouldn't really be asking questions like this.

You will not be the strongest student in the class, of course. Do the
work faithfully. Pay attention to the corrections your instructor makes
to your compositions. Don't cheat yourself and make any kind of excuses
for poor performance. Among weaker CAE candidates like you will be,
there is a tendency to overestimate your capabilities in fits of
bravado and then sink into despair whenever you realize that you can't
put your money where your mouth is.

Finally, you have found your way to this newsgroup. It really is an
extraordinary resource. There are about a dozen first-rate, committed
language teachers hanging around here who can help you with your
questions and problems.

Good luck!