Welcome to London, how's your English?

By Boc Ly
BBC London

IELTS is a test of English speaking, reading, writing and listening skills

London is the story of a continuous influx of people. Ever since the Romans created a settlement here two thousand years ago, people of all colours and all faiths have sought voyage to this ancient city on the river.

Immigrants have brought with them their cultures, their customs, their food and, of course, their languages.

One study found that 300 languages are spoken in London's schools.

London's status as the multi-lingual capital of the world is both an accolade and a challenge. Harmony in a vibrant multi-cultural community can only be maintained when everyone can easily communicate with each other.

The English language is the glue that holds us all together.

IELTS

Life for anyone who comes to London, whether it is for work, study or play will be much easier if they have a basic grasp of English. Indeed, it is not just desirable but in many cases it is now mandatory.

A recent change in immigration law requires that most people, depending on their skills and job requirements, will need to prove that their English is good enough to allow them to study or work in the UK.

This is the service provided by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which in 2009 marks its 20th anniversary as one of the world's leading and most-widely accepted English language tests.

If you come from outside the EU, and unless you are a research scientist or successful entrepreneur, you will need to pass a language proficiency test in order to be able to study or work here.

The global language

Carl Rhymer is head of IELTS at the British Council, which helps to run the scheme that is recognised by over 6,000 organisations worldwide ranging from immigration agencies, academic institutions to employers.

Promoting the teaching and learning of the English language is very much at the heart of what we do Carl Rhymer Head of IELTS British Council

"Promoting the teaching and learning of the English language is very much at the heart of what we [the British Council] do," says Carl.

"Over the years we have seen a significant growth in global mobility, an increase in the number of students wanting to study in the UK and also of people seeking job opportunities."

"IELTS has grown with this trend in mobility and the growing importance of English, which is spoken by about two billion people. English is spoken more by non-native speakers than it is by native speakers."

Demanding times

The growing demand for IELTS has meant that two new testing centres have opened in London this year. It has 500 such testing centres in 120 countries, nine of which are here in the capital.

The city itself, says Carl, is part of the reason why IELTS has become so popular.

"When you look at the numbers of job and study opportunities available in London it is enormous and because of the very diverse population a lot of people have families and friends here already."

No Standards

However, it would be wrong to think that the role of IELTS is to safe-guard or protect the English language.

Read about one student learning English in London and look at some sample IELTS questions: "English has more rules" IELTS: Sample test questions

"We recognise that it is an international language and I don't think you can say that British English is the real English," insists Carl.

"We've developed a test that allows people to benchmark themselves against a set of standards. We're not standard-setters ourselves."

"If I tried to understand the language of teenagers now, I'd be hard pushed to understand some of it, but the beauty of English is that it develops not just within the country but also the influences that come from outside."

For the benefit of everyone

The IELTS exam comprises separate writing, listening, speaking and reading tests. It is not a simple matter of a pass or fail either. A person's score is measured through bands one to nine, with nine being the most proficient.

Someone who is coming to the UK to study may only need to achieve a band five score, while someone coming here to work as a medical doctor must demonstrate that they have excellent English and therefore they will need to score an eight or nine.

This grading system ensures that a person has the language ability required for their needs, whether that is work or study. The employer or academic institution can also be confident that they will be getting someone who is not hamstrung by the language barrier.

Ultimately, it is not just the individual or organisation that benefits but wider society too.

"The importance of the English language is the integration of the society and extends simply beyond the economic," says Carl.

"By being able to use English effectively you are going to expand your horizons significantly. It's about taking part in the whole social and cultural experience that is London."