Marina, a 27-year-old teacher from Zaragoza in Spain, loves learning English.
“I love English vocabulary. It’s both practical and beautiful, and it’s easier than other languages.”
For Marina, English presents the opportunity to communicate, not only with native English speakers but with people from across the globe who also have English as their second language.
“On vacation, I like to communicate with other people, go shopping, and eat in restaurants – everywhere you need to speak with other people. Last year, I went travelling and spoke in English with people from many different countries, including Italy, Portugal, and China. So languages are very important for me.”
Her English skills have also come in handy during her professional life, as well as on vacation.
“Before I worked as a teacher, I was a tour guide – a job I needed English for. When my boss asked if I had a certificate to prove my English level, I could say, “Yes, I have one for the Oxford Test of English!”
How do you choose the right English test?
One of the appeals of taking the Oxford Test of English in the first place was that it is certified by the University of Oxford. “That is important to me because it is such a famous university. I also prefer the Oxford Test of English because it is faster than other tests. You take the test in two hours, you have the results in 14 days, and the price is good.”
She enjoyed the experience so much, she recommends the test to everyone she knows.
“I always recommend the Oxford Test of English to my students, friends, and family. My brother is a marketing student at the moment, so I told him to take it. It’ll be useful for his future, too.”
Does she have any advice for her brother when he does take it?
“Don’t hurry, use all of the allocated time for each section, and you’ll do great.”
English for everyday life
Meanwhile, Nicolás, a 33-year-old teacher from Argentina, finds speaking English is an important part of his everyday life.
“I use English for nearly everything. When I teach biology in a secondary school, I have to read resources in English and understand them quickly. I also need it as a JavaScript programmer because all the programming language’s documentation is in English, and some of the team speak English, too.”
And it’s not just at work — Nicolás also uses English when he’s relaxing at home as well.
“I need English even when I watch baking tutorials or play video games because most of them are not translated into Spanish. Learning English is an important tool for me.”
Why take an English test at all?
When it came to advancing in his career, Nicolás found himself in a situation where he needed to prove his English level quickly and found himself limited by the options on the market.
“I needed to certify that my English was at a B2 level quickly so I could add it to my CV and do my master’s presentation. I researched several tests online, but they all took months to prepare for – I didn’t have that kind of time.”
Luckily he found the Oxford Test of English.
“I then called my local Approved Test Centre in Buenos Aires and was able to sit the test and get my results quickly, which meant I was able to do my master’s presentation and progress to my PhD.”
Like Marina, Nicolás would recommend this adaptive test to anyone who needs to prove their level of English; be that for work, travel, or academic pursuits.
“A test that adapts to the student and tests them to their limit? That’s a really good idea. I think the Oxford Test of English was the very best choice for me – and it’s certified by the University of Oxford, which is world-renowned!”
You can read more students’ success stories and find out how your students could benefit from taking the Oxford Test of English on our website.
Like this? Now read: An English Test For Schools: Introducing Ana And Her Students
Don’t forget to share this link to our Learning Resources Bank with your students – where they can find additional tips and support to guide them through their English learning journey.
