Location: Spain
In 2004, the Community of Madrid introduced an internal assessment element to its existing bilingual initiative. Trinity College London facilitated this for the Madrid government, administering Graded Exams in Spoken English (GESE) to a broad spectrum of learners.
GESE grades facilitate various abilities
The Madrid education system is recognised for its dedication to foreign language skills. Trinity College London was asked to support the Madrid Bilingual Community initiative when the government felt external assessments would be helpful to measure and monitor learners’ English communication abilities.
The GESE was chosen as the annual assessment method due to its relevance and flexibility. As it stands, there are multiple GESE options at different grades available for learners of differing proficiency.
The more experienced GESE Grade 5, for instance, is equivalent to a level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Expanding the Madrid Bilingual Community
By 2016, with the support of Trinity College London, the Madrid Bilingual Community initiative included almost 400 public and over 70 subsidised private bilingual teaching centres. Over 33,000 learners were enrolled in external English assessments during years four and six of primary school.
Of 256 surveyed teachers involved with the initiative, nearly 90% were specifically preparing learners for a GESE exam.
Research study reveals project impact
In the survey mentioned above, 89% of teachers agreed that integrating exam prep with the curriculum and using exam-like exercises in class positively impacted overall English communication skills. 33% called this impact ‘a big improvement’.
The survey also evidenced Trinity’s exam materials as distinctly valuable to Madrid teachers in three core contexts:
- For general English classes and class planning purposes
- For improving real-life independent communication
- For monitoring and measuring English language learner progress
“Since the beginning of the Bilingual Programme in 2005, Trinity College London has collaborated on multiple occasions with the Madrid Board of Education, providing teachers and students with first-rate training and a reliable and professional assessment.
Trinity has been able to cater to our younger bilingual students’ needs thanks to a wide range of exams and a focus on communication skills and performance. Trinity’s depth of knowledge in CLIL methodology has proven to be consistent with the tenets of the region’s Bilingual Programme, and this convergence has no doubt played a part in its implementation. Its high exam standards and qualified experts have forged a solid relationship with the Madrid Board of Education based on the quality of the services delivered.”
MARIA MERCEDES MARIN GARCIA
Director General of Bilingualism and Quality of Teaching, Ministry of Education Universities, Science, and Spokesperson, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain