3 minute read
THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Dominic Hudson - Exams Director, British Council Sri Lanka www.britishcouncil.org
Estimates of the number of English users in the world vary, some around 1.5-2 billion people but I suspect it’s far higher and perhaps half the world’s 8 billion population use English. Improved English communication allows global conversations to take place more easily. The British Council is delighted to support the Open University Career Fair; we believe wider educational development and improving quality standards support positive changes in society, for example 21st century skills for work and the ability to communicate internationally. It is important that you have been studying in the English language as this will help you communicate across boundaries and build bridges in future: bridges into international higher education, working with other countries and making friends beyond Sri Lanka. English proficiency will also help you further your education in international universities and online learning offers, and it creates wider choices for your education and your life. Adding international elements to education through online journals, academic or professional institutes also opens diverse subject areas and you will have access to some of the most interesting and high impact jobs. You will be able to work and live in other countries more easily if you choose to. All this will improve your life prospects and create a foundation for positively contributing to your community and wider society.
Advertisement
At British Council we support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We have over 80 years of expertise in delivering English language education, and are trusted by over 100 million learners worldwide each year. The British Council has been working with students and teachers for over 70 years in Sri Lanka and will continue to support developments in this area. As well as our English learning and assessments, British Council is active in Sri Lanka in
Arts and Education – English language skills allow all stakeholders to access and benefit. We make global connections through the English language; we understand more when we can read and listen to other peoples’ experiences and ideas beyond our own community and country; we trust more quickly when we can positively assess and evaluate those experiences and ideas fully.
Your ability to communicate in English though reading and writing, listening and speaking is as important, or more important than, the knowledge you have of grammar and vocabulary. Language is most useful when it comes alive as reading and listening to understand, speaking and writing to express thoughts, ideas and opinions. English is the most common language of international study, business and travel. International universities generally have minimum English requirements, assessed through tests or interviews; migration authorities also seek proof of your English ability when moving abroad. The minimum requirements are useful guidelines, but I encourage you to aim a lot higher. You want the maximum benefit and fullest experience when you study and move abroad and this comes from advanced proficiency and greater confidence and agility with the English language.
The International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, is the most widely recognised English proficiency test – accepted worldwide by more than 11,000 organisations including all the top universities and migration authorities. This recognition comes from its quality and security. British Council IELTS is widely accessible in Sri Lanka in most major cities; you can register and pay yourself online or through our registration partners. We offer preparation resources with information on the format, question types and marking scheme for orientation. We have advice on the skills and techniques to allow you to perform well through webinars, courses, Facebook live sessions, YouTube videos etc. The free IELTS Prep app allows you to access practice tests and further tips; there is a familiarity test for IELTS on Computer which gives immediate results for reading and listening components. If you are wondering when you should take the test, you can use the free EnglishScore app to get an indicative English result in less than 1 hour. Many of the British Council IELTS registration partners also offer preparation courses to support your success. When you register for British Council IELTS, we offer further preparation just for you.
Have you been trying out what you learned? We emphasise the need to experiment with and engage your knowledge and skills with real work tasks and challenges. English language proficiency can support you to apply your knowledge and skills internationally. Employers look for this in applications and interviews.
Congratulations on your achievements in education so far and I wish you success in future. When you are looking for resources, advice or practice to further develop your English knowledge and communication skills, please look at the British Council website, follow our social media and visit our library – there’s an impressive amount of support available.
