Language School Pombal. Pombalingua was founded in 1984 to provide effective and comprehensive English language and culture courses to both children and adults. Over the years Pombalingua has carefully raised its standards to a level of competence that is respected and highly recommended. Pombalingua is not only authorised by the Portuguese Ministry of Education but is also well known for offering a very solid educational service and for successfully preparing most of its students for the internationally recognised University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Many hours are spent on extensive preparation and Pombalingua's courses are designed for logical step-by-step learning. With a brilliant, dedicated and very talented team of experienced teachers, Pombalingua looks to the future, not merely by anticipating new trends, but also by embracing motivating and innovative methodology.

CAMBRIDGE

UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE ESOL EXAMINATIONS

One of Pombalingua's many objectives is to prepare students for the internationally recognised Cambridge ESOL Examinations and our programmes are designed for this. The Cambridge ESOL exams are the world's leading range of certificates for learners of English. Each year they are taken by over two million people, in 130 countries. They can help candidates gain entry to a university or college, improve their job prospects and measure their progress in English. Not only the exams but also Pombalingua's courses are linked to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language published by the Council of Europe.

General English

KET

KET (Key English Test)

KET is the first level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level A2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. KET recognises the ability to cope with everyday written and spoken communications at a basic level. Do you have basic English skills? Can you understand simple texts? Can you communicate in familiar situations? Can you understand short notices and simple spoken directions? If so, then KET is the exam for you. Why take KET? KET uses language from real life situations and covers four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. It provides an assessment of practical skills, and encourages the development of abilities which can be used while travelling, as well as in study and work situations. Although the KET exam is at a basic level, it helps you to find out your strengths and weaknesses. You can then plan further study and go on to take PET (Preliminary English Test) and the other Cambridge ESOL exams. If you are successful, you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you have performed in each of the three papers.

PET

PET (Preliminary English Test)

PET is the second level Cambridge ESOL exam. It is an intermediate level exam, at Level B1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you can deal with everyday written and spoken communications (e.g. read simple textbooks and articles, write simple personal letters, make notes during a meeting), then this is the exam for you. PET is a valuable qualification if you want to work or study abroad or to develop a career in international business. It is also useful preparation for higher level exams, such as FCE (First Certificate in English), CAE(Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English). Why take PET? Studying for PET is a popular way to improve your language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. PET covers four main language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking, using material from real life situations. It provides evidence of practical skills, and indicates sufficient ability to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs, and in many industries, such as tourism, where contact with English speakers is required. If you are successful, you will receive a certificate from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The certificate is recognised by employers in many countries, and recognised by universities in some countries as an initial qualification in English. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you have performed in each of the three papers.

FCE

FCE (First Certificate in English)

FCE is an intermediate level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level B2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Choose FCE if your knowledge of English is adequate for many practical everyday purposes, including business and study. To be successful, you will have a wide grasp of vocabulary, and be able to construct an argument and use appropriate communication styles for a variety of situations. You also need to show an awareness of register and of the conventions of politeness and degrees of formality as they are expressed through language. Why take FCE? FCE is ideal if you want to work or study abroad or to develop a career which requires language skills (e.g. business, medicine, engineering). FCE indicates sufficient proficiency in English to be of practical use in clerical, secretarial and managerial jobs in many industries, in particular tourism, where contact with English speakers is required. Successful candidates have the ability to deal with routine letters and telephone enquiries, and to cope with some non-academic training courses and simple textbooks and articles. FCE is also useful preparation if you are working towards higher level exams, such as CAE (Certificate in Advanced English) and CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English). On passing the exam you will receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, which is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each of the five papers.

CAE

CAE (Certificate in Advanced English)

CAE is the second highest level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Choose CAE if you are reaching a standard of English that is adequate for most purposes, including social and professional situations, and in higher education. Although the level of language skills required is not as high as for CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English), CAE recognises the ability to communicate with confidence in English and deal with most aspects of everyday life. Why take CAE? CAE is ideal if you want to work or study abroad or to develop a career which requires language skills (e.g. business, medicine, engineering). It is also useful preparation if you are working towards CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English). On passing the exam, you'll receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Your CAE certificate is recognised by universities and employers throughout the world. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each of the five papers. Studying for CAE helps you to improve your language skills and use them in a wide range of contexts. The exams are based on realistic tasks, and indicate the ability to use the language in practical situations. If you are successful, you'll be able to participate in meetings and discussions, expressing opinions clearly, and be able to understand and produce texts of various types, including business letters and reports. You'll also be more than capable of following university courses taught in English.

CPE

CPE (Certificate of Proficiency in English)

CPE is the highest level Cambridge ESOL exam, at level C2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. If you are able to function effectively in almost any English-speaking context and are approaching a standard of English similar to that of an educated native speaker, then this is the exam for you. Success at this level represents a significant personal achievement. Why take CPE? CPE is ideal if you want to work or study abroad, or to develop a career which requires language skills (e.g. business, medicine, engineering). On passing the exam, you'll receive a certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Your CPE certificate is recognised by thousands of universities and employers throughout the world. You will also receive a statement of results, showing how you performed in each paper. While studying for CPE you will be improving your language skills and learning to use them in a wide range of contexts. Because many aspects of the exams are based on realistic tasks, a CPE certificate shows that you have progressed beyond a good knowledge of vocabulary and grammar and can actually use the language in real contexts.

Skills-based Assessment

CELS (Certificates in English Language Skills)

CELS is a suite of General English exams (Preliminary, Vantage and Higher), at levels B1, B2 and C1 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Choose CELS if you do not need (or are not able) to reach the same level of proficiency across all four language skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking. You can take whichever tests you need at whichever level is most appropriate. This modular set of exams was developed from the CCSE (Certificates in Communicative Skills in English) and the Oxford EFL examinations. Please note that CELS examinations will be held for the last time in December 2007. Why take CELS? You may find that you are better at some of the four language skills than at others. Perhaps your receptive skills are more highly developed than your productive skills? CELS' flexibility means that you have the option to enter very different combinations of tests and levels. Studying for CELS helps you to improve your chosen language skills and to use them in a wide variety of contexts. The exams are based on realistic tasks, based on authentic texts (for reading and listening) and show that you can use the language in practical situations. Each of the skill areas (reading, writing, listening and speaking) is covered by a separate, free-standing certificate awarded by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. You are therefore able to gain certification for what you have achieved, rather than being penalised for what you have chosen not to (or are unable) to do.

Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life

Skills for Life is the government's strategy for improving adult literacy, numeracy and ESOL skills in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. From September 2004, all qualifications for adult learners of English in the state sector which relate to the strategy must be based on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum - a development of the National Standards for Adult Literacy - and accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). In response to these requirements, Cambridge ESOL is offering the full range of Certificates in ESOL Skills for Life. These qualifications provide flexible assessment of ESOL learners in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, whilst minimising the workload of teachers and administrators. They reflect the use of English in everyday life and are fully based on the Adult ESOL Core Curriculum. The Skills for Life Certificates are: available at five levels - Entry 1, Entry 2, Entry 3, Level 1 and Level 2 wholly externally assessed, by trained and experienced examiners available on demand to suit the learner and the learning provider accredited by the QCA and funded by the Learning and Skills Council Recognising that the individual's language skills can vary quite significantly in their development, the new Certificates allow learners to enter for different modes at different levels, to accommodate "spiky profiles". At each level, learners who achieve a pass will be awarded certificates at mode level from University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.

Business English

BEC

BEC (Business English Certificates)

There are three BEC exams - BEC Preliminary, BEC Vantage and BEC Higher - which test English language ability used in the context of business. They are ideal if you are preparing for a career in international business. The BEC exams are linked to the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, and to the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's National Standards for Literacy, within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Why take BEC? More than ever, a good knowledge of English is needed to succeed in international business and commerce. If you can show you have relevant language skills you'll have a great advantage in the jobs market and much greater flexibility if you want to work abroad. An internationally recognised business qualification can help you show that you have learned English to an appropriate standard and can use it in a professional context.

Academic English

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

The ideal test if you need to study or work where English is the language of communication. IELTS scores are recognised by universities and colleges, employers, immigration authorities and professional bodies.

Young Learners English

YLE

YLE (Cambridge Young Learners English Tests)

An enjoyable and non-threatening way of assessing the English of children between the ages of 7 and 12. These tests are an enjoyable and non-threatening way of assessing the English of children between the ages of 7 and 12. There are three levels: Flyers (at Level A2 of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), Movers (at Level A1) and Starters (below Level A1). Why take YLE? The tests provide a gentle introduction to public exams and research shows that children find the tests highly motivating. They aim to: * sample relevant and meaningful language use * measure ability accurately and fairly * present a positive impression of international tests * promote and encourage effective learning and teaching The tests can act as a stepping stone to other Cambridge ESOL exams. As the highest level test, Flyers is roughly equivalent in language level to KET (Key English Test). It can serve as an appropriate bridge to KET or a step leading to PET (Preliminary English Test), as learners move into adolescence.