Certification tests have been around for many years and have the primary purpose of attesting to the fluency of a foreign speaker in a certain language; this article even goes against the previous article, in which we dealt with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. To classify and identify a student’s level and communicative ability in a given language, the standard, effective and widely used means are international language proficiency tests – or certification. We tell you all this here!
Currently, obtaining a certificate of proficiency in a language opens doors to the country in which one wants to study or work. However, these certifications require a strong and disciplined preparation, within the 4 language skills – Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening. To achieve a good score, it is not enough just to speak the language, but also to have knowledge of the test and its respective strategies.
For English, for example, the most traditional tests are the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) which involves understanding the English language at university level, and the TOEIC – responsible for certification in Business English. A wide variety of multinational companies, universities and government agencies recognize these certificates as proof of fluency in English. There is also the CPE (Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English) and the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), which are usually required in European universities or companies and cover both social and professional experience.
For those interested only in the business area, we also prepare for the BEC (Cambridge Business English Certificate), in which only content aimed at the professional area is required, whether in marketing, management or other business issues, and also for the GMAT ( Graduate Management Admission Test) that favors the Administration audience.
The DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera) is offered as a certification of proficiency in Spanish. This test is formulated in six levels of fluency in the language, ranging from basic to native, and has no validity.
In the case of French, we prepare the candidate for both the DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) and the DALF (Diploma Approfondi de Langue Française), the former being geared towards travel and work and the latter necessary for admission to institutions higher education in France or French-speaking countries. There is also the TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français), which certifies the candidate, in a simpler way, to have oral and written knowledge of the language, whether for tourism or professional career.
The most renowned German Certificate of Proficiency is the Goethe-Zertifikat, a requirement for anyone wishing to study or obtain a work visa for Germany. It is required that the student has no problems in dealing with everyday situations, in addition to having good writing and oral skills. The TestDaF (Test Deutsch als Fremdsprache), in turn, is specific for aspiring students to enter German universities.
There is also the option of preparing for proficiency in Italian in the most varied tests, be it the CELI (Certificato di Conoscenza della Lingua Italiana), the CILS (Certificazione di Italiano com Lingua Straniera), as well as the IT (Certificato di Italiano com Lingua Straniera) and PLIDA (Progetto Lingua Italiana Dante Alighieri). These certificates enable the candidate to study at Italian universities and work in the country, with fluency proven through the test.
We also offer preparatory courses for foreigners who wish to obtain proficiency in the Portuguese language. The Celpe-Bras certificate was developed by the MEC (Ministry of Education) and is the necessary proof for those who need to work or seek access to higher education institutions in Brazil.
Auding has teachers specialized in preparation strategies for all the above certifications, providing updated material and a targeted study plan. It is worth remembering that we will take care of the entire process, but the proof itself is applied only by Organs competent bodies of this. Consult us for more information!
Written by Italo Medeiros Decottignies
