PREPARING FOR THE ORAL PROFICIENCY TEST

The semi-private component of the Individual Learning Programme is ideally suited to
prepare for the Oral Proficiency Test. By working with their co-learner and their
instructor, learners focus their activities on work-related discussions, building the
vocabulary and structure necessary to speaking about work related topics, which is the
ideal way to prepare for the Test.

With the help of the instructor, learners figure out how to avoid the normal traps and to
deal with the difficulties of the Test. They can then practice the communication
strategies they need to be successful.

Because the learners continuously communicate outside of the safe “instructor-learner”
bubble, they increase their confidence in speaking with strangers, which is what the
evaluator will be. Their participation in semi-private training activities reduces both their
stress in interviews and their performance anxiety towards using the second language in
their work environment.

Essentially, the semi-private component is a continuous, on-going rehearsal for a
successful performance on the Oral Proficiency Test.