Trinity College London ESOL

Trinity College London ESOL is an international examinations board delivering assessments in English language learning and teaching and offering English language exams since 1938. It is the language division of Trinity College London (which also comprises Trinity Guildhall, which offers examinations in the performing arts). Trinity exams are taken by over 500,000 candidates in over 60 countries each year.

Language certificates offered include English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) for non-native speakers of English, and Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for teachers of non-native speakers of English.

Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE)

The Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) test candidates' ability in listening and speaking.

There are four Stages with three Grades at each Stage:
* Grades 1-3 (Initial stage)
* Grades 4-6 (Elementary stage)
* Grades 7-9 (Intermediate stage)
* Grades 10-12 (Advanced stage)

Integrated Skills in English(ISE)

Integrated Skills in English examinations (ISE) assess all four language skills - Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading – interacting with each other as they do in the real world making them suitable assessments for many business and academic organisations. There are five ISE levels – ISE 0, ISE I, ISE II, ISE III, ISE IV.

ISE is accepted by academic institutions in the UK as evidence of English language proficiency for Internatinal students.

Learners can choose to take ISE exams on their own or combine them with the spoken grades (GESE) as they progress in their English language abilities.

UK ESOL Examinations

These certificates are for ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, designed in accordance with the UK Adult ESOL Core Curriculum.

ESOL Skills for Life certificates

These assessments are offered in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing and are available from Entry 1 to Level 2 in the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Trinity is the only examinations board to also offer pre-NQF assessments (non-accredited) in Speaking and Listening – ESOL Step 1 and Step 2.

ESOL Skills for Life is externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.

ESOL for Work certificates

These assessments are offered in Speaking and Listening, Reading and Writing and are available at two levels of competence: Entry 3 and Level 1 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The Writing component of Unit 2 is assessed at a level below Speaking and Listening and Reading. ESOL for Work is externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.

Teaching Qualifications

Trinity offers TESOL (Teachers English for Speakers of Other Languages) also known sometimes as TEFL or TESL. Trinity teacher qualifications are widely recognised by employers and authorities around the world.

Qualifications range from those starting out in a teaching career to senior teaching and management posts.
* Trinity CertTESOL - for those with little or no experience of teaching English.
* Trinity Diploma TESOL - for those with at least 2 years experience, equivalent to Master’s degree.
* Trinity CertIBET - Certificate in International Business English Teaching
* Trinity FTCL - Fellowship Trinity College London (TESOL)
* Trinity CertTEYL - Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners.
* Trinity Joint CertTESOL - Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Trinty also offers Further Education (FE) qualifications, accredited by Standards Verification UK (formerly FENTO):
* Trinity DTLLS - Diploma for Teaching in the Lifelond Learning Sector (English ESOL) - for the UK only

Inquirers should check that course providers listed as validated as of July 2006 are still validated by Trinity.

Academic Recognition

Trinity ESOL qualifications are accredited by the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority QCA, and its respective partners in Wales and Northern Ireland. They are listed in the UK's UCAS (University and Colleges Admissions Services) guide to qualifications acceptable as evidence of English language competency.

UCAS considers an English language competency equivalent to NQF Levels 1 or 2 as appropriate for entry to UK Higher Education. The UCAS guides list the following Trinity ESOL qualifications acceptable as evidence of proficiency in English.

Comparison table for Trinity ESOL, Cambridge ESOL and IELTS examinations

Worldwide accreditation varies from country to country.

Link to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

The Trinity suite of exams are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages(CEFR). This framework sets standards in foreign language learning/teaching across Europe, by categorising learners into six levels of ability. The

Trinity ESOL exams fit into this framework as shown in the table

See also

*English as an additional language
*Teaching English as a Foreign Language

External links

* [http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=263 Trinity College ESOL]
* [http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=293 Trinity College TESOL]
* [http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/locator/course_flash.php Trinity College TESOL Course Search]
* [http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=543 International Exam Recognition]