Test accommodations expanded for ELLs

ALBANY, NY–The state will now allow testing accommodations to former English Language Learners for two years after they achieve proficiency on NYSESLAT, the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test. NYSUT believes this two-year extension will give former ELLs an opportunity to show their content knowledge while they full story

Foreign students on par with locals

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA–International students do just as well as Australian students at Australia’s elite universities, countering claims that international students are “soft-marked” and are dragging down academic standards, according to the author of a new study. The research examining students at Australia’s leading eight research universities, full story

Cabbies get Games makeover

NEW DELHI, INDIA–The Delhi auto driver’s image as a tough nut, prone to break out into street-Hindi curses, could see a makeover in a couple of years. If everything goes to plan, the city’s taxi drivers, autowallahs, security guards and hotel waiters will turn into polite speakers of English by 2010, just in time for the Commonwealth Games. The Union tourism ministry is devising a scheme to teach them “good English” full story

English to be introduced in primary schools

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM–The “Teaching and learning foreign language in the national education system” program  aims to encourage English teaching and learning at levels rated by the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA). It will have students learn English at the primary school (grades 1-5) itself, instead of the secondary school (grades 6-10) full story

English as a cool course with Freshdirect’s grocery

BROOKLYN, NY–Freshdirect’s grocery business budded out of convenience. Now, the company known for delivering gourmet goodies to the doorstep is cultivating its employees. Regulars at Helen Sashin’s weekly English-as-a-second-language class are not just students. They are FreshDirect workers – new immigrants – learning on the cool shipping floors of its Long Island City warehouse. full story

International enrollment reaches all-time high at Centenary College

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ–Centenary College’s International Department recently reported that international student enrollment is at an all time high with more than 65 new individuals attending the institution, bringing the total number of international students enrolled at the college to 125. full story