Dear
students,
in this academic year, the Institute
of Engineering Pedagogy
and Humanities (UIPH) in Trnava will be issuing UNIcert ®. Certificates.
The Institute for Accreditation of language teaching at universities in Central
Europe
Department of Foreign Languages, University of Economics in Bratislava,
Dolnozemská cesta 1, 852 35 Bratislava 5
1. What is UNIcert ®?
Certification and education system UNIcert ®
was introduced in 1992 by the German Association of Language Centres in
Higher Education - Arbeitskreis der Sprachenzentren (AKS), which acts as a
professional organization for all institutions and staff of language
departments at university level
throughout Germany.
UNIcert ® is a certification system for teaching foreign languages, which is
now used by 53 European universities. To date, the system UNIcert ® has granted
over 15 000 certificates. Its advantage over other certificates is that UNIcert
® is primarily an open education system, targeting university students - and
non linguists, which provides a general, comprehensive and transparent system
of language learning. Its aim is to handle the language situation which the
attendant may face while studying in universities at home or abroad and also in
employment.
UNIcert ® reflects the specific needs, objectives and methodologies which are
characteristic for individual students in higher education institutions, while
respecting the specification levels of proficiency B1 (UNIcert ® I), B2
(UNIcert ® II), C1 (UNIcert ® III) and C2 (UNIcert ® IV), providing the Common
European Framework for language acquisition and teaching (The Common European
Framework of Reference for Language Learning and Teaching).
UNIcert ® system is primarily an educational system that adequately reflects
the academic field. Output documents in the educational system are in the form
of a certificate that may be granted only by those universities that are
members of the UNIcert ® network and respectful of its statutes.
2. Why should students consider the certificate UNIcert ®
The role of the UNIcert ® certification
system is harmonization, unification and standardization of educational
programs, language training and particularly the output unification of
knowledge proficiency and assessment by the international certificate on the
basis of two documents from the Council of Europe. The Common European
Framework of Reference for the learning and teaching of languages and the
European Language Portfolio, which would be valid for all participating
institutions of the European Union.
UNIcert ® is currently the only system of its kind, which reflects the
specific needs, objectives, methodologies and methods characteristic of
individual students and institutions of universities - the test is considered
to be the professional state exam.
3. What's to be done?
DPLC UIPH FMST SUT entered the accreditation process and will shortly complete
the process for grades B2 (UNIcert ® II), C1 (UNIcert ® III) for the English language.
To obtain the certificate one must have completed learning English with a
volume of 120 contact teaching hours and then a test.
An additional course (30 hours/lessons) will be needed by students of the FMST
SUT who are undergoing proper teaching within a foreign language (3 semesters
of 2 hours per week plus 1 semester of 1 hour). This should take place after
the end of proper teaching of a foreign language during the examination time of
the winter semester or at the beginning of the summer semester during the third
year of study.
This means that:
A) The student will be able to decide whether to apply for the course and then the UNIcert® test in the chosen level and to finish studying of the foreign language at the FMST SUT with a European certificate, or only with a proper exam in the proper exam period.
B) After the proper teaching of English language students will complete the mandatory application form (for an additional course and examination), which will be available on the Web or at the DPLC (No. 134 - Mgr. Fedic, 145 - Mgr. Chmelíkova, PhD.).
C) The student has to pass (mandatory) an additional English language course of approximately 30 hours, which will verify their knowledge and skills. (Note: The course will probably take place in late winter or the early summer semester of the academic year).
D) The student needs to complete the exam. The exam consists of an oral and a written part and it lasts : UNIcert ® II 150 minutes and UNIcert ® III, 200 minutes, (more details will be available in the exam procedures - which will be available on the FMST SUT website and on a notice board in the premises of the DPLC). The test will be evaluated by a commission of members from the DPLC UIPH and outside experts.
Important! UNIcert ® II and UNIcert ® III tests may be requested by:
a) current students
b) PhD students (external and internal studies - until 5 years after an
examination in the compulsory education).
c) Former graduates of language teaching (within 7 years from the time of
examination in the compulsory education).
4. The benefits of obtaining a certificate from UNIcert ® II and UNIcert ® III
- UNIcert ® certification system adequately reflects the university's specific
conditions and needs, objectives, methodologies specific to each student in
higher education institutions and the non-linguistic orientated.
- System certification UNIcert ® respects the specification levels of
proficiency in the Common European Framework for language acquisition and
teaching (see table in paragraph 6, or see www. Europass.cedefop.eu.int).
- The accreditation of UNIcert ® is recommended by the certification of
proficiency in higher education by the Slovak Rectors' Conference and the
Council of Higher Education (15th of June 2007 CD-2007-8816/18190-I: 04).
- Obtaining the certificate UNIcert ® II and especially UNIcert ® III is a
prerequisite for successfully applying to foreign mobility within the
international programs (e.g. Erasmus).
- UNIcert ® II and especially III UNIcert ® represent the professional (not
general) state exam which the students can do at the FMST SUT.
- Syllabuses are the result of a rigorous analysis of needs and long experience
of the DPLC,
- Students can choose the desired level of certification (UNIcert ® II UNIcert
® III)
- Gain the basic amount of contact hours (4 semesters) are required to receive
certification. Students will do the examination within the faculty as a part of
compulsory education in areas
- The DPLC UIPH has a solid ICT and audiovisual technological environment.
- Other benefits of obtaining certification (points, scholarships ...) are subject to negotiations with the management at the faculty.
5. What will it cost?
Recommended and the estimated additional cost for covering the additional course: 70 euros. The recommended price for the test and the issue of a certificate: 50 euros.
In the initial pilot year, we are considering discounts for the course.
Course materials for additional courses will be provided free of charge.
For comparison:
1. IELTS (International English Language Testing System) course price depends on the length and specialisation + the price of a comparable test is currently around 185 euros (5573, - EUR).
2. Cambridge exam - different levels: the price of the course + the price of a comparable test -e.g. general test at B1 from 180 euros (5573 skk) to 200 to 255 euros (6025 skk - to 7682 skk) for a professional state examination at levels C1 and C2.
6. Common characteristics of the levels.
Proficient |
C2 |
Can understand with ease virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise information from different spoken and written sources, reconstructing arguments and accounts in a coherent presentation. Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in more complex situations. |
User |
C1 |
Can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognise implicit meaning. Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Can use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Can produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, showing controlled use of organisational patterns, connectors and cohesive devices. |
Independent |
B2 |
Can understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation. Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options. |
User |
B1 |
Can understand the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters regularly encountered in work, school, leisure, etc. Can deal with most situations likely to arise whilst travelling in an area where the language is spoken. Can produce simple connected text on topics which are familiar or of personal interest. Can describe experiences and events, dreams, hopes & ambitions and briefly give reasons and explanations for opinions and plans. |
Basic |
A2 |
Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need. |
User |
A1 |
Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help. |
6. More information
See:
http://www.casajc.sk/unicert.htm ( in Handbook of SL / EL pages 12-20 )
http://www.mtf.stuba.sk/generate_page.php?page_id=3114