Society

IELTS™ helps English teachers with test design

By Cai Shanshan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-11-26 16:06

BEIJING - The Cultural and Education Section of the British Embassy and Beijing Foreign Studies University, a leading foreign language study college in China, co-hosted the "2010 3rd Annual IELTS™ Conference" in Beijing on November 25.

Ian Gordon from the Cultural and Educational Section of the British Embassy talks to students in a live class demonstration at the 2010 IELTS Annual Conference held in Beijing on November 25. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The IELTS™ Annual Conference Series aimed to provide teachers and researchers involved in English language teaching and assessment with cutting-edge information from the UK, China and elsewhere in the world.

With "Washback" as its theme, the conference explored the positive impact of English tests on the language teaching and learning that precedes them. The conference provided an opportunity for professionals engaged in English teaching in China to learn about washback and to look at this effect in particular relation to a communicative language test like IELTS.

At the event IELTS™ announced its sponsorship of a new initiative to help teachers involved in test design through the "Exams Design and Assessment Project". This training project can provide support for teachers in the implementation of changes in the National Curriculum that requires teachers to adopt a more communicative approach in teaching English. This project aims to equip the English teaching and research staff with skills necessary to design communicative exams that will also have a positive impact on classroom teaching through the washback effect.

As part of the event, a live class demonstration was held, during which Ian Gordon from the Cultural and Educational Section of British Embassy used a creative and vivid approach to show how to help students overcome their shyness and open their mouths.

As an international English test operating in China for over 20 years, IELTS™ has helped a large number of Chinese students to realize their dreams to travel and study abroad. The focus in 2010 for IELTS™ is to share the success of IELTS™ with candidates and the wider teaching community.