Harness the power of English for a global competitive edge

Speed is increasingly critical in global admissions. But with faster results comes an inevitable question: does speed compromise accuracy and security? 

With traditional testing, long result timelines were often seen as a mark of thoroughness. Today, however, technology enables both speed and precision without any trade-offs. 

PTE Express uses AI-powered scoring trained on large datasets of real tests responses, ensuring consistent and accurate evaluation across all candidates. Unlike manual grading, which can vary between examiners, automated scoring applies the same criteria to every response. In result, this reduces bias and increases reliability; two factors that are deemed as critical for high-stakes admissions decisions. 

What do we mean by English fluency, and how can understanding competencies across the four skills provide a more realistic picture of communicative English ability?

What is fluency?

As someone who worked in dictionaries, the meaning of words has always interested me – and fluency is a particular case in point.

Language learners often set themselves the goal of becoming fluent in a language. Job adverts often specify “fluent in English or Spanish” as a requirement. But what does being 'fluent' in a language actually mean? If we look in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, we see that fluent means “able to speak a language very well”. Fluent speech or writing is described as “smooth and confident, with no mistakes”. In general, fluency is most often associated with spoken language – but is that the goal of all language learners? And what does being able to speak fluently show about the other language skills?

Describing English proficiency

Before entering the world of dictionaries, I taught English as a foreign language in France. At that time, the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) had not yet been published and learners were described in very general terms – beginner, intermediate, advanced – with no agreed standards on what learners at each level were expected to know. As well as establishing standards, the CEFR also shifted the focus of language assessment from knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to functional competence, i.e. what can a student actually do with the language they’re learning across the four skills:

• listening
• reading
• speaking
• writing

Interestingly, while calling out specific objectives for each skill, almost two-thirds of the information in the CEFR describes spoken language. This seems to imply that spoken fluency is indeed the most important goal for all language learners.

Mapping out a personalized path to proficiency

As a global publisher, Pearson English recognizes that all learners are different – in their backgrounds, learning environments and learning goals. This is why we have undertaken new research to extend the set of learning objectives contained in the CEFR to account for learners who need detailed information about their level in all four skills, not just in one (typically, that of speaking).

No learner will be equally proficient in all four language skills – in the same way that no native speaker is equally proficient in all skills in their first language. Some of us are better at writing than speaking, and many are illiterate in their first language. A true measure of language proficiency needs to take all skills into account. Equally, not every learner of English will need to be 'fluent' in spoken communication.

Many researchers need to read papers in English and attend conferences in English – but will only ever present and write in their first language. Is 'fluency' a good way to describe their goal? And if it isn’t, does that somehow diminish their language achievements?

By acknowledging proficiency in individual skills – rather than catch-all terms such as 'fluent' – we gain a clearer understanding of goals and outcomes, and with this knowledge, we are in a better position to tailor learning to the individual.

If you're looking to improve your own fluency (in any language) make sure to check out our language learning app Mondly.

Keeping students motivated can be difficult at any time of the academic year. Around the world, school calendars and term lengths vary, but most educators will recognize the challenge of teaching through a long stretch of lessons. The energy of a new class or course may fade, routines can start to feel repetitive, and students may feel tired or less connected to their learning goals.

For language teachers, this can be especially challenging. Learning a language takes time, and progress is not always easy for students to see. So, how can you keep language students motivated when a course or teaching period starts to lose momentum?