Tuesday 22 January 2013

Luna YLE Certificates - lots of happy faces


I am delighted to report that Luna's Young Learners took Cambridge ESOL Young Learners (YLE) exams at the end of October, and that everyone really enjoyed themselves (bar one - bit of a crayon tantrum...) and even surprised themselves with what they COULD do!

Some students were taking Starters for the very first time, and were understandably nervous/not quite sure what was going to happen. Of course, we had had a run through of various tasks leading up to their big day (without making it a big deal - see no point in exam prep for the exam's sake) but that had always been co-operative & familiar. On the day, no looking around, peeping, surruptitious pencil dropping, reading out loud, putting hands up, gawping at the teacher etc!

Other students had done it before, and were quite aware (from mum, not us!) that they needed to improve on last year's scores...and I think by and large we all achieved that. Phew!!! Some of our older students moved up a level to have a go at Movers or Flyers, and they could see the difference. They had more time, for sure, but needed to be able to eg spell more, read longer passages, match vocabulary, tell a story...a big step up, and quite different to other tests they may take here in Japan (which, in my honest opinion, are basically exercises in translation/death by grammar and not worth the time/money wasted on them - purely intended to trick test-takers and pile on stress...not fair).

I was very happy that my students remembered 'how to' tips such as ignoring a question if they could not figure it out quickly. Always half a chance a light will go off later; if not, they have still answered all the other questions in time. What I also really like about the assessment of YLE (as in all other ESOL exams) is that the candidates are given the benefit of the doubt eg if their meaning is discernable but spelling a bit off, no real drama (unless spelling in eg listening is actually being tested).

We were very glad this year to welcome some candidates from Magnus' school in Okaya, and Rico's Organic English School in town. Thanks both of you for that, and for your help on the day.

You can see more happy YLE certificate holders on flickr, click here

Now we are busy pusing ahead, full of confidence and thinking about how much better we can do this year!

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Postcard from...Beijing, China

Dear Jim,

I'm in Beigin, China, on Biz trip. After Beigin had snow, it;s turned quite cold since 30 years.

All of Chinese food I have is nice.

I enjoy my staying in China 0 have a nice X'mas.

From Yumi

Thursday 10 January 2013

Examinations dates & venues for May, June, July

We are very excited to announce that we are offering ALL adult levels of Cambridge ESOL examinations in the first half of 2013.

Any and all enquiries should be made to Yukari, our Centre Examinations Manager here
All entries can be made online here , where you will also find schedules, fees etc

May 11th: Certificate of Proficiency in English (C.P.E./"Proficiency") at Luna - Matsumoto (map)
  • Deadline for CPE entries is March 31st 

May 18th: morning. Preliminary English Test (P.E.T.) in Tokyo (map) and at Luna - Matsumoto (map)
and
May 18th: afternoon. Key English Test (K.E.T.) in Tokyo (map) and at Luna - Matsumoto (map)
  •  Deadline for KET & PET entries is April 13th 
  June 8th: First Certificate in English (F.C.E./"First") in Tokyo (map) and in Nagoya (map)

  •  Deadline for FCE entries is April 21st
 July 13th: Certificate in Advanced English (C.A.E./"Advanced") in Tokyo (map)
  • Deadline for CAE entries is June 9th
 We are very grateful to our friends at King's Road School of English for their help and support.

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Postcard from ...Sri Lanka

Happy New Year from Sri Lanka!

I arrived in Colombo on 24th Dec, then I attended mass with my friends & friend's family. The next day, I went to Galle and stayed one night there. Now I am in Kandy. Here I am going to tea plantations and Sigiriya.

Have a wonderful year 2013

Atsuko K

Monday 7 January 2013

We're Back!

HAPPY NEW YEAR
to all our students, parents and friends

We are really looking forward to 2013, and to teaching you loads of cool stuff!