UNIcert ® – a language teaching and testing system for HE Johann Fischer University of Göttingen [email protected]

UNIcertUNIcert®® – – a language teaching a language teaching and testing system for HEand testing system for HE

Johann Fischer

University of Göttingen

[email protected]

UNIcert® – the mission:

To offer a training programme in modern languages for non-specialists, suiting their needs, in order to prepare them for the needs of the labour market and to offer them a complementary university qualification

Johann Fischer (University of Göttingen) • “UNIcert® – a language teaching and testing system for HE”

1. UNIcert® – a language teaching and testing system for HE

2. The four UNIcert® levels

3. UNIcert® compared to other certificates

4. UNIcert® “around the world”

5. How to join?

6. UNIcert® – challenges and projects

7. Example of a UNIcert® exam


1.1. UNIcertUNIcert®® – – a language teaching and a language teaching and

testing system for HEtesting system for HE

UNIcert® is:

a training system

a certification system

for higher education


UNIcert®:

four levels of competence

from (real) beginners to level C 2

approx.120 to 180 hours of teaching per level (?)

on courses during the term and during university holidays


UNIcert® :

a framework system

to be adapted to local needs (LSP)

training in intercultural aspects


UNIcert® :

preparation for a study-abroad programme

general training or LSP training

integrated into the study programme or optional


2. 2. The four The four UNIcertUNIcert®® levels levels

UNIcert®

level CEFR level

number of teaching hours

LSP?

UNIcert® I 0 – B1 120 – 180 h general language

UNIcert® II B2 120 – 180 h general language

UNIcert® III C1 120 – 180 hgeneral language

or LSP

UNIcert® IV C2 120 – 180 hgeneral language

or LSP


3. 3. UNIcertUNIcert®® compared to compared to other certificatesother certificates

UNIcert®:

is not only a certification, but also a training system

is cheaper for the students

is a certificate of university / academic language competences


UNIcert®:

is one of the most transparent certification systems: explanation of the training programme and description of the achieved level in at least two languages on the back of the certificate

allows a training programme in LSP directly linked to the study programme


4. 4. UNIcertUNIcert®® “around the “around the world”world”

UNIcert®:

created in 1990 by Bernd Voss and Christine Klein-Braley

initially for AKS members (German association of university language centres)

through an agreement ratified by the members of AKS


in Germany:

more than 50 institutions offering a UNIcert® programme

more than 54.000 certificates issued at all 4 levels and for 22 different languages


abroad:

1 institution in France (INH Angers) + 1 application in process

co-operation with French CLES system started recently

1 institution in Austria (FHS KufsteinTirol) a franchise system with the Czech Republic

and SlovakiaJohann Fischer (University of Göttingen) • “UNIcert® – a language teaching and testing system for HE”

in the Czech Republic and Slovakia:

a franchise system with CASALC UNIcert®LUCE (LUCE = “Language

Accreditation Unit for Universities in Central Europe”)

with its own Czech and Slovak accreditation committee

8 accredited institutionsJohann Fischer (University of Göttingen) • “UNIcert® – a language teaching and testing system for HE”

5. 5. How to join?How to join?

How to join? :

1. familiarise with official documents:

o UNIcert® framework

o model teaching and testing regulations

o UNIcert® examination regulations


How to join? :

2. familiarise with complementary documents:

o UNIcert® Handbook

o other publications on UNIcert®

o teaching programmes and course structure at other universities


How to join? :

3. develop one’s own teaching programme

and one’s own teaching and testing regulations

in close co-operation with the administration at the institution AND with the UNIcert® office


How to join? :

4. present the course programme and the teaching and testing regulations to the UNIcert® committee for accreditation

and implement changes if necessary


How to join? :

5. present the course programme and the teaching and testing regulations, that have already been accredited by the UNIcert® committee, to the necessary boards within one’s own institution (and in some cases the ministry) in order to receive official status


How to join? :

6. start the language training and then the UNIcert® exams


6. 6. UNIcertUNIcert®® – challenges – challenges and projects and projects

the challenges:

interpretation of the levels – across member institutions and across languages

comparability of the achieved levels / of the certificates

quick progress on courses at beginners’ level and appropriate teaching material


the challenges:

homogeneity of the placement tests

towards a task-based language test

Bologna process = transformation process


the challenges:

changes linked to the Bologna process:

o valorisation of modules and no longer valorisation of courses

o time problem

o valorisation autonomous learning and blended learning programmes


the challenges:

problem of comparability


the projects:

preparation of manuals with annotated exams for certain languages

development of calibrated placement tests (C-test)

calibration project: comparing the grades given with the results achieved in a standardised c-test


Sprachein Zahlen in Prozent in Zahlen in Prozent in Zahlen in Prozent in Zahlen in Prozent in Zahlen in Prozent in Zahlen in Prozent

Stufe I 0 0.0% 40 3.3% 51 4.2% 13 1.1% 0 0.0% 104 8.5%Stufe II 67 5.5% 0 0.0% 8 0.7% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 75 6.2%Stufe III 939 77.2% 62 5.1% 1 0.1% 13 1.1% 16 1.3% 1031 84.7%Stufe IV 7 0.6% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 7 0.6%Summe 1013 83.2% 102 8.4% 60 4.9% 26 2.1% 16 1.3% 1217 100.0%

DaF alle Sprachen

Anzahl der ausgewerteten TestsEnglisch Französisch Spanisch Italienisch

73.4783.40

102.87

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

A F K O

Ø II A B C D E F I J K L M N

Ø II

I B F I

Ø IV

C-Test Results English

the projects:

preparation of a new UNIcert® Handbook (which will serve as a guide for accredited and newly interested institutions)


7. 7. Example of a Example of a UNIcert® examexam

Business French Exam –

UNIcert® level III (level C 1 of the CEFR), University of Tübingen, November 2005


Business French Exam:

• Exercises on LSP (45’)

• Reading comprehension (45’)

• Writing (60’)

• Listening comprehension (30’)

• Speaking (and content) (30’)


Business French exam:

example


Johann FischerUniversität GöttingenZESSGosslerstr. 10D-37073 Gö[email protected]://www.zess.uni-goettingen.de/

UNIcert®

Arbeitsstelle UNIcert

Institut für Anglistik/AmerikanistikTechnische Universität DresdenD-01062 Dresden [email protected]://www.unicert-online.org

Documents

UNIcert ® – a language teaching and testing system for HE Johann Fischer University of Göttingen [email protected]