Orient Longman In Pact With Trinity College, The Financial Express 8-May-04

MUMBAI, MAY 7: India’s leading publisher, Orient Longman has tied up with Trinity College, London, to bring the Trinity English for Speakers of Other Languages (Trinity ESOL) examinations to India. Students have been appearing for the tests at an individual level, but this tie-up is expected to formalise the exams and widen their base.

Unlike Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), these exams do not provide direct entry to students and professionals who wish to go abroad. However, they are considered a benchmark in testing one’s knowledge of English and are useful to educational institutions, employers seeking to evaluate their staff, call centres and corporate houses.

The syllabus is exhaustive yet easy, and students do not have to buy any special materials. Every exam involves a conversation with a Trinity examiner who informs the learner about topics that his teachers have helped him to choose.

In Mumbai, Kiran Phopale, Assistant Manager, Marketing, Orient Longman, has been receiving inquiries from people who wish to take the exam.

She says, “Trinity’s spoken English examinations have international validity. More than 30 British universities and colleges of higher education recognise Trinity Grade 10 in spoken English, as the minimum level of spoken English needed to undertake undergraduate study successfully. Trinity’s international certificates also show universities and potential employers that you have a level of language ability that is sufficient for your career objectives.”

Orient Longman will initially offer two examinations in India, the Graded Examinations in Spoken English (GESE) and the Integrated Skills in English Examinations (ISE). The GESE is a series of tests that assesses students, who are just beginning to learn the language right upto those who are close to achieving near first-language fluency. Anybody over the age of seven can apply. The ISE examinations is meant for those who would like to record their achievements in reading, writing, speaking and listening in English.

Trinity offers these exams in about 50 countries.

This is the only examination where a native speaking faculty trained by Trinity comes down to the test centres to conduct the test. All that is required is an adequate number of students to make it viable.

Successful candidates are sent an official certificate from London within eight weeks of the exam.

Ms Phopale adds that there is no entrance test. “Anyone who wants to apply may register through Orient Longman. The candidate will have to pay only the examination fees of Rs 1,700-6,000 for the GESE, and Rs 6,000-12,000 for the ISE exam, depending upon the grade upon the exam. The location depends on the number of participants from a particular area or an institution,” she says.

The examinations are being formally launched through a series of workshops in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. The workshops will be conducted by Clinton Rae, director of Language Examinations, and Lynda Coney, Senior Examiner at Trinity College London.