We've now posted the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR) levels information and TOEIC test score equivalencies as promised in my previous post. To help you understand what is now required, here is a brief summary of minimum TOEIC scores needed for different types of immigration to the United Kingdom, as well as a summary of some of the relevant UK visa changes made over the past year.

Up until November 2010 spouses and partners of individuals applying to come to the United Kingdom as immigrants or students did not have to prove English proficiency. Now they must.

Human resource management professionals are careful to avoid discriminating against job applicants based on national origin, especially since such discrimination is prohibited by U.S. law. They need to know—to what extent is assessing the language proficiency of job applicants or employees from non-English-speaking countries allowable? 

Fortunately, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides clear guidelines on when such testing is allowed and appropriate. In brief—

For the past four years, all non-native English speakers seeking to obtain a visa to live, work, or study in the United Kingdom have been required to pass an English language proficiency test.

This spring the U.K. Border Agency, which controls visa processing, completed a review and update of its list of accepted tests. Tests from only five testing agencies were reapproved, with over a dozen tests eliminated from the list. However, the TOEIC Listening & Reading test was among the few re-approved, and the new TOEIC Speaking & Writing test was also approved for the list.

It's easy to assume "everyone knows" this or that when you work daily with a particular test (or any product or service). Then you start talking to someone outside your small world and realize that's not the case.

Here are a few misunderstandings about TOEIC testing that I've seen come up repeatedly in communications about the test.

1. Myth: there's only one TOEIC test.

False. The TOEIC Speaking & Writing test is entirely separate from the TOEIC Listening & Reading test; the two are even administered on different days. It's also possible to take the TOEIC Speaking test as a stand-alone test.

2. Myth: TOEIC is a test of American English.

• Flashcards. These could be paper cards, digital, or mobile phone apps.

Involved in academic research on language teaching and/or learning? Interested in building your CV/publications portfolio?

The Academic Exchange Quarterly, an international independent, double-blind-peer-reviewed print journal, is accepting submissions for a special issue on "Expanding the Language Teaching and Learning Knowledge Base" through August 2011. Below is the description of types of articles desired from the publication's Web site.

Speaking is one of the most challenging English language skills for many TOEIC test takers to master. Even native speakers are often terrified when they first have to give a formal presentation to an audience: the fear of public speaking is in fact our most common phobia, with many saying that this fear is worse for them than even fear of death.

If you are preparing for TOEIC, however, giving a public speech is not what you have to master. You will be speaking privately and simply into the “ears” of a computer and being scored by expert raters who score international English anonymously and objectively, with no judgments based on accent or knowledge of who you are.

Speaking “to a computer” of course can generate its own fears (though in today’s VOIP- and DVC-connected business world you may be doing it every day). Fortunately there are many learner-friendly forums that will develop your skills and your confidence.