English may be the world's preeminent language of politics and trade. Many thousands of international students visit Ireland each year to enroll in top quality English language schools, which offer an array of internationally recognised qualifications to suit every academic, personal or professional need.
Ireland has one of the youngest populations in Europe as well as an impressive tradition of learning, and has become an important place to go for international students seeking to enhance their English vocabulary skills. The combination of a regulated high-quality education system, stable economy, beautiful landscape and vibrant cultural scene, implies that almost 100,000 international students each year arrived at Ireland to take English language classes.
There are lots of course options: from absolute beginners' programmes to classes made to improve the English vocabulary skills of those that already posses a great level of proficiency. Specialised English courses are available too that teach the specific vocabulary of particular professions such as Healthcare and Business. Classes are available for old and young learners, and through group or one-to-one formats.
International students generally learn English for two reasons: on the one hand to achieve admittance to some university or college programme in an Irish or other English speaking institution; as well as on the other, to develop English vocabulary skills which will improve career.
Many students come to Ireland and enrol in an English language course prior to an undergraduate or postgraduate programme whilst other students join the Irish school system at Leaving Certificate level, with the aim of entering university afterwards. Irish universities have stringent admission requirements for international students. Candidates should be able to demonstrate ahead of time that they have the required proficiency in English to play a full part in their college programme. Requirements and accepted English language qualifications can vary a great deal from one course to a different, so it is highly recommended you contacting the International Office or Admissions Office of the institution under consideration for further information.
Irish English language schools offer preparation programmes for the major international English language examinations such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the exam of English for International Communication (TOIEC), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and also the Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) examinations; and for two awards recently coded in Ireland: the exam of Interactive English (TIE) and the English Test for Academic and Professional Purposes (ETAPP).
Schools will often register the student using the examining body automatically, but individual candidates can also affect take an exam independently.
These qualifications all relate to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Valid all over Europe, the CEFR provides a foundation for the mutual recognition of language competence, thus facilitating educational and occupational mobility. It is increasingly utilized in the reform of national curricula by international consortia for that comparison of language certificates.
Guide to English Language Certification
An important aim of ACELS (begin to see the Certification section) would be to develop English language exams in an Irish context, and the TIE and ETAPP examinations are a result of this remit.
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TIE is designed for learners of each and every level of capability to enhance their English, and is unique for the reason that a student decides test content. Students have to carry out three tasks in preparation: a short project on the subject of interest to you; read a book of your liking that's suitable to your degree of ability; and follow a news story in media. TIE involves written and spoken tests.
ETAPP was created in 2007 for international students seeking to obtain a course in an Irish third level institution, or those looking to operate in an expert role in Ireland. ETAPP is similar in content and objective to long-established international examinations for example IELTS and TOEFL, and comprises four separate tests of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
IELTS covers all four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking, and it is accepted by more than 6,000 universities, immigration authorities, and professional bodies around the world, including all advanced schooling institutions in Ireland. The IELTS seeks to test English because it is used in real life, using methods for example speaking modules that are completed face-to-face with an examiner, and also the utilization of different national and regional accents in testing. In 2008 over one million people took IELTS worldwide. The exam is provided as much as 4 times in a month in over 125 countries, and results are provided just 13 calendar days after the test.
TOEFL was initially introduced in 1964 and is accepted by institutions in 130 countries worldwide. Almost 20 million students took the test, that is available in IBT (Internet-based Test) and PBT (Paper-based Test) formats. The TOEFL tests all language skills that are important for effective communication: Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.
TOEIC measures the ability of workers to make use of English running a business, commerce and industry. The qualification can also be recognised by colleges and governments all over the world. Three million - mainly in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan - go ahead and take test each year. The TOEIC is a paper-based, multiple-choice exam that utilises audio, visual and written materials.