Planning for success with the GSE

Sara Davila
University students sat in a classroom at desks with a teacher speaking to them

The Global Scale of English (GSE) is the first truly global English language standard.

It consists of a detailed scale of language ability and learning objectives, forming the foundations of our courses and assessments at ɫèAV English.

The GSE was developed based on research involving over 6000 language teachers worldwide. The objective was to extend the current descriptor sets to enable the measurement of progression within a CEFR level C and also to address the learning needs of a wider group of students.

It can be used in conjunction with a current school curriculum and allows teachers to accurately measure their learners progress in all four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking.

GSE was introduced at the C an English language school run by the University of Toledo in Ohio, USA C with impressive results.

The American Language Institute

The Institute provides English courses for students who want to improve their English and prepares students to take the International Student English exam. They offer an intensive language program consisting of 20 hours of classes every week and 40 hours of self-study. This 60-hour week is designed to fast-track students from a lower level of English to a standard which allows them to participate successfully in college courses. There are five course levels offered, from A2+ to B2+ and class sizes average at around 10 students.

Most students at the Institute are full-time international students planning to attend the University of Toledo once their English language proficiency reaches the required standard. On average, they are between 18 and 20 years old, and enter the language program with a B1 level of English.

A mission statement

At the Institute, the main aim of the language courses is to help students develop their English skills to a level that will allow them to integrate successfully into the university community, not just academically but socially. In their own words; Our ultimate goal isnt to teach them how to take and pass language tests, but to teach them how to use English and engage themselves with the local communities.

So how did the GSE, in conjunction with the Versant test and other ɫèAV products, help to achieve this goal?

Transitioning to a objectives-based curriculum

First, the course coordinator Dr Ting Li adopted the GSE for a more detailed approach to the CEFR. She found that the GSE made the CEFR more manageable because it broke out the levels and outlined CEFR goals into different categories.

Next, she replaced the current course materials with NorthStar Speaking & Listening, NorthStar Reading & Writing, and Focus on Grammar. These courses covered the areas taught in the previous curriculum, as well as the three key areas of study; literacy, speaking and listening, and grammar.

The instructors also began using ɫèAV English Connect, a digital platform for teachers and students.This gave them the flexibility to revise questions and reduce administrative burden due to the automatic grading feature.

Finally, the Institute started using the Versant English placement test to decide which level students should enter when they first begin studying at the Institute.

Key findings from the case study

The new curriculum was a great success. Students, teachers and administrators all found that the courses and assessments, all underpinned by the GSE, made the language learning experience smoother and easier. Once students had completed the highest level of the course and achieved a 3.0 GPA, they were able to transition smoothly into their courses at the University of Toledo.

The alignment between the NorthStar courses, the grammar study books and the Versant test was informed by the GSE. This meant students didnt have to sit as many assessments as before, reducing time teachers had to spend setting and marking exams, and allowing them to focus more on supporting learners and the quality of their lessons.

Dr Li highlighted the following key benefits:

  • The Global Scale of English supports the development of a standardized curriculum and a consistent framework for teaching English
  • The average student GPA was highly related to the University of Toledos undergraduate GPA, which indicates that if students do well at the Institute, they will have a successful academic career.?
  • There was no group difference between graduates of the Institute and the average University of Toledo student GPA, which indicates that the Institutes students perform as well as other international students who have been directly admitted to the university.?
  • There was no difference between credits earned 2 years into the university program compared with the general student population.

Whats more, the Institute was recently recognized by the , meaning that the course run by Dr Li is now nationally recognized. Using the GSE to inform the organization of the course curriculum made the accreditation process smoother and easier.

Working as a team

One of the main pieces of feedback from Dr Li and the Institute was how helpful they found the ɫèAV representatives, who offered excellent customer support, building a sense of a team between their representatives and the school. This very teamwork helped the Institute to fulfill the ambition in their mission statement. It makes for an inspiring story of how one school used the GSE to transform their curriculum, and achieved their goal of helping students to improve their English and achieve their academic ambitions. ?

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • A student writingon a paper with other students doing the same in the background

    More commonly misspelled English words

    ύ Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Spelling can often feel like navigating a maze. But fear not, for you are not alone in this quest. Whether you're a fluent speaker or learning English as a second language, the challenge of spelling is universal.

    Yet, just as heroes rise to conquer their foes, you too can triumph over misspelled words. With dedication and the right tools, you'll soon find yourself spelling with confidence and ease. Carrying on from our previous post, 'The most commonly misspelled words in English', let's explore more commonly misspelled words and empower ourselves with the knowledge to spell them correctly.

  • a teacher stood with two students sat a desk

    Whats it like to teach English in Spain?

    ύ Steffanie Zazulak
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Tim Marsh has been teaching English since 1985 and has taught over 3,500 students, with ages ranging from six to 65. He is therefore well placed to describe teaching English as a difficult and demanding job, as well as to share the five lessons hes learned during his impressive time in his career

    1. Know your stuff

    The Spanish expect paid professionals to know everything about their expertise but there are few teachers of the English language who do know everything. We should prepare lessons adequately when teaching aspects were not entirely confident about.

    Many CELTA tutors say that if you are asked a question that you cannot answer confidently, you shouldnt panic but instead inform the student that you will check and give them the detailed answer at the following lesson. This may be useful when you first start out, but it shouldnt happen frequently, as your honesty will not always be appreciated!

    2. Expect the unexpected

    Teaching English is very rewarding and can be full of surprises. As a result, its not a good idea to try to follow a rigid teaching plan. Write a plan thats flexible enough to allow for a good dose of spontaneity to enter into proceedings. I can honestly say that not one single day is the same as another.

    If a Spaniard is not in the mood for working on a particular skill, as will happen from time to time, then be prepared to change that lesson at the drop of a hat. Its always a good idea to keep four or five favourite lessons filed within easy reach for just such occasions C preferably skills lessons that can be easily adapted to the theme that you are currently working on.

    Whatever you had planned for this week can always be done next week. The customer is always right and, when living in Spain, big lunches, high temperatures, Barcelona against Real Madrid and the after-match party can bring about very unexpected lessons!

    3. Stick to what youre being paid to do

    The Spanish are extremely friendly people who love to talk and are happy to share C sometimes in great detail C the problems in their working and even private lives. In an effort to establish friendly relationships, they often create an intimacy: what is referred to in Spanish as confianza.

    This is much the same kind of trust and confidence that we have with our doctors or lawyers, so, unless youre careful, you can find yourself doubling as teacher and therapist, which will alter the dynamic of the classroom.

    A teacher of English teaches English. Stick to what you know, stick to what youre being paid to do and create a professional framework in which to do your best as a teacher and not as a therapist.

    4. Do not offer guarantees

    The busiest time of the year is often during the summer, when language schools begin to fill up as state-school exam results come in. Parents enroll their children on intensive or exam revision courses so that they can take their resits in September.

    English courses are often expensive and parents will expect a guarantee that their child will pass the school English exam at the end of the summer. Never offer a guarantee! There are usually a number of reasons why the child has failed in the first place and it is better to lose a client than to make promises you cant keep.

    5. Have a good pair of shoes

    Many years ago, the famous soprano Rita Hunter was asked what she considered to be the most important requirement when singing opera. She answered, A good pair of shoes. She went on to say that when she was appearing in a Wagner opera that started at 5.30 pm and didnt finish until 11 pm, the most important thing to look after was her feet.

    Ive always tried to avoid institutions that insist on a uniform or on wearing a shirt and tie. Students often feel uncomfortable in a classroom where the teacher is formally dressed. I have always found the working environment much more relaxed when dressed in a similar way to my students. This and the fact that in Spain the temperature can hit the 30s in June and stay there into September mean that I dress casually, often in shorts. And I always wear a good pair of shoes.

  • A business woman stood in front of a board of sticky notes, with others looking at the sticky notes.

    Start-up guide: Language training for your business

    ύ Samantha Ball
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    As HR professionals, you understand the importance of equipping your workforce with the skills they need to thrive. One such critical skill is proficiency in business English. Implementing a corporate language training program can seem daunting, but with the right resources and a clear plan, you can set your organization on a path to success. Heres a methodical guide to help you get started with resources to help you along the way.