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Firm offers new English exam options, flexibility By James Scanlon For The Prague Post (June 10, 2004) As the Czech Republic goes global, the race is on for good jobs -- and most of them require a certification in English proficiency. A cottage industry of English courses and testing companies has profited from the demand, and many a stressed-out Czech student, hoping to work for a foreign firm, can be spotted in the evenings bent over an English First Certificate workbook. As in many countries, market leader Cambridge has dominated the business in the Czech Republic for years. But now a smaller upstart is moving in, hoping to compete with more flexible testing dates and lower fees. "With [the Czech Republic] joining the European Union, it seems that everybody needs an English-language qualification," says Helena Srutkova, country representative for City and Guilds Pitman. The British-run City and Guilds is one of the world's largest vocational awarding bodies, focused mainly on international and general vocational qualifications in English. It joined forces with Pitman, an organization dealing mainly with business qualifications, in 1990. City and Guilds first started running English-language courses in Czechoslavakia in 1991, at the same time as Cambridge. But that effort was sporadic and lacked the promotional vigor that pushed Cambridge to the forefront. The firm still has some catching up to do if it hopes to gain ground on the more prestigious Cambridge. Katka Kucharska, a student at Charles University who took the Cambridge exam, or CAE, in English last year, was drawn by its high standards. "I chose Cambridge because I think it's one of the best exams you can take here," she says. "That's what they keep saying, at least. In fact, there's not many exams you can choose from. "A lot of teachers I've spoken to welcome the appearance of a new system," Kucharska adds. "Many say that it's good to have competition, because it keeps the system in balance." Cambridge exam fees have recently risen from around 3,800 Kc ($133) to 4,200 Kc, while City and Guilds Pitman comes in at around 60 percent less. Cambridge representatives declined comment but it's clear the company is adapting to meet the demands. The range of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) exams now includes specialist exams in business English and English for academic purposes, as well as tests for young learners and a suite of certificates and diplomas for language teachers. City and Guilds Pitman, meanwhile, is also fortifying its presence on Czech turf. Formerly, says Srutkova, "The centers were run a bit chaotically. They had to organize their accreditation themselves, and it was quite demanding. There weren't any promotional campaigns or any negotiations with the Ministry of Education." This time around, the company's efforts are shored up by recent successes in Budapest, a market where City and Guilds Pitman is actually more popular than Cambridge. The next step was to move on to neighboring countries. Exams on demand Srutkova was appointed last October to take on the task of finding new teaching and testing centers (schools, universities, language schools) that would be able to meet the quality standards for accreditation by City and Guilds Pitman. Because Cambridge is connected with the British Council, there are only three main offices: in Prague, Brno and Ostrava. "With City and Guilds Pitman, students can register and take their exams in any of the accredited centers around the country. They are also 'on demand' exams, meaning the schools can run the exams whenever the students are ready. There are no fixed dates, as with Cambridge." Cambridge has built its reputation offering qualifications such as First Certificate in English, Certificate in Advanced English and Certificate of Proficiency in English. In response, City and Guilds will be offering ESOL qualifications at basic and elementary levels, intermediate, higher intermediate and advanced. Like Cambridge, City and Guilds Pitman addresses all major language components -- reading, writing, speaking and listening. However, one difference is that spoken and written exams are separate. "Written ESOL and spoken ESOL can be taken at different times and levels," Srutkova explains. "A student could, for example, take spoken ESOL at intermediate level and written ESOL at higher intermediate level." Another difference, adds Srutkova, is that "City and Guilds Pitman is more practical and lifelike than Cambridge. Cambridge is more academic, whereas City and Guilds Pitman concentrates on functional language a little bit more." City and Guilds Pitman also offers its students access to past exams to help them get a feel for what they'll be encountering at test time, Srutkova says. The company is now finalizing City and Guilds Pitman centers in Liberec, Prostejov and Prague, where the most likely locations are The Language House and ETC Language School.
James Scanlon can be reached at
specialsection@praguepost.com
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