Free Language Proficiency Tests - Do you need them?

I already have Duolingo, Memrise, FluentU and several other language apps. 

 Why do I want a language proficiency test?

Employers and Teachers Checking Others

Employers and educational establishments need these tests. The organization tests teachers and students.

I would like an independent test when I want to tell a pupil or speaker who I am evaluating that they need to improve. To show whether a speaker needs to improve - and where.

To check whether I need a basic or advanced course in another language, and whether it just wastes my time or actually teaches me something new.

Checking Yourself

I want to check my progress as I take a course in, say, Spanish. Babbell asked me whether I knew a little or a lot? What is my level?

I think I am fluent in French. Is it a waste of time doing their advanced course?

What would I recommend to others?

Practising Speaking

On Facebook somebody from the polyglot page asked, "Can I pick up a language without following a course, just by listening, like a child?"

Firstly, a child has a parent or teacher who listens and corrects. If you listen to people on a train you could be picking up swearwords, bad grammar and foreign accents. 

Secondly a child is learning a language with immersion. The radio and TV and overheard phone   conversations, are in the native language. People on transport, in  the street, in the shops. The cinema.

Finally, what is the true timeline? At three years old the child can speak only simple sentences. At five     word or seven it is just learning to write and read. At ages ten to fourteen it learns three syllable 

Visit Toastmasters clubs which have one of two native English speakers as regular Language Evaluators.

 I am VPE of Braddell Heights Advanced. The BHA President Faith speaks American English and I speak British English. 

I am also honorary language coach of Empire in Indonesia and run language workshops. 

Singapore also has several other English language experts, teachers or trainers, in alphabetical order by first name: Celine G, John S, Penny R, Richard S, Terence.

Useful Websites

List of language proficiency tests

https://www.lingq.com/blog/language-proficiency-tests/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_language_proficiency_tests

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is a British author who has lived in the USA.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Angela Lansbury teacher of English (advanced and English as a Second Language or English as a Foreign Language, French and other languages, aspiring polyglot.

Angela Lansbury, author and speaker. Member of many toastmasters  speaker training clubs and speaking contest judge.

Angela Lansbury, the author of 20 books including Wedding Speeches & Toasts, and Quick Quotations, has lived in the USA, Spain and Singapore. 

She  has several blogs and writes daily on at least two of the following:

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

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