Proudly sitting Cambridge YLE

We were very proud to hold our annual Cambridge ESOL Young Learners (YLE) exams today, at Luna.

We have been doing this since 2000, and consider this the day when our students can comprehensively demonstrate what they are capable of...of course, nerves can have an adverse impact, but basically our children are in a familiar environment and 'business as usual' doing stuff in English...just sitting in different seats!

Obviously I have a vested interest in my own students, as well as my own school's students, and am nervous for them to do well; that we had students from two other schools made this session feel 'bigger'. Thank you Magnus and Rico, for your help on the day as well.

Extra nerves for me personally today though, as my own daughter was one of the candidates...just what will this show of our efforts running the pre-school at Luna (her little friend Hinata also sat - not very still - the Starters level. She had to ask mummy what a test was yesterday! In my honest opinion, YLE Starters is about as a gentle a test as you can hope for. Should we test children? Argue yourselves in circles on that one. Let children show off what they can do and reward them with an internationally recognised certificate? Absolutely!!!

Reactions afterwards were 95% positive - one little lad had a melt down, but such is life! Well done children - proud of you all for trying; can't ask any more than that! Looking forward to handing out certificates :)

We would also like to say 'well done' to all the children in Sapporo who took their YLE exams today at EFL Club. Thank you Laura for your hard work organising the seeion & preparing your students, and to Peter & Mary for examining.

Inspiring First Cert lady

I am not often able to spend a whole day in the company of a single woman, but Sunday was an exception.

In June I spent a shorter day with the same lady; she came back and requested more time - duly granted.

To say this lady is determined, brave and inspiring is not to over-egg the mixture. First train out of Tokyo to get to Luna for nine hours of an English exam. The journey with a white stick and the test with her fingertips.

She ran out of time taking Cambridge ESOL's CAE exam in the summer. It was our first experience accommodating a blind candidate; we had no idea what exactly the parameters were nor how much or how little assistance ( and of what kind) would be required. Jim learnt what amanuensis meant.

Fast forward to Sunday, and borne of our mutual experiences previously, we were much more able to look after our candidate as she sat FCE. For a start, I knew how much extra time she would need - try reading two pieces of paper at the same time, in a foreign language with the clock ticking with your eyes closed? No, I wouldn't like to try that at all.

I was thrilled that this time I was not crushing her every time I had to tell her there were only "ten minutes left" - and I could see she was nowhere near finished. Her confidence clearly took a hit. This time, she was empowered, able to address every question, and was still cheerful at stumps (I am in cricket mode!).

A big thing I'd learned was that the specially arranged materials were full of potential problems (for us). I'll be sharing these with ESOL; let's just say some of them are jaw-droppingly daft.

One solution is called Teruki; I asked her to take the speaking test with our real candidate in order for there to be a genuine interaction, and to help relax the situation. Thank you very much indeed Teruki - living up to your 'Terrific' reputation again!

So, I escorted a tired but unbowed champion to her train home (this time it didn't leave with me on it). I am extremely proud that Luna JP004 is able to go out of it's way to accept candidates with special requirements, and that ESOL provides the materials & discretion. Thanks Yuki & Yukari for managing that sensitively.

Pass (I predict) or fail, I am delighted to say I got to know a winner.