What is IELTS?
Anthony Hernandez
Mission Specialist I Volunteer at Scobee Education Center (NASA-STEM)
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, an English proficiency test established by the British Council, IDP Education, and Cambridge Assessment English authorities, and it is trusted by governments, employers, and thousands of universities worldwide. IELTS testing standards are recognized by over 12,000 organizations worldwide, with over 3.5 million test sites globally. The testing evaluation consists of four essential language skills: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. As TELF English teachers further their continuing education, this is an advanced certification, and TELF teachers having this IELTS certification can improve the chances of employment opportunities and, at the same time, help students who want to enter a college or university in an English-speaking country.
There are two IELTS exams, a general for employment and an academic for those wishing to enter a university or college to pursue a degree in an English-speaking country. As the teacher is instructing students taking the IELTS exam, there is much the teacher needs to cover in practice, concentrate on weak areas of the test, and help the student improve. The teacher will set up mock exams and then mock exams with the actual timing of each section, as in a real-world exam.
Give handouts on keeping components for the IELTS exam and additional homework to help improve the four sections' critical areas. An IELTS exam will assess the student in the four areas mentioned above, and each section is timed. The IELTS exam can be a paper or online computer test. Those who are certified IELTS examiners will check the students' identifications and verify they are the person taking the exam. One school offering the IELTS exam course for teachers is www.Bridge.edu, one of the few online course programs for TEFL teachers who wish to be certified as IELTS teachers and examiners. Certified TELF teachers should consider taking the IELTS course.