Benefits of Video Games in ESL

Teachers all understand very well that language acquisition requires extensive exposure. Research also suggests that fluency can be built more effectively through the use of alternative materials, rather than relying on traditional textbooks. Lessons that encourage creativity can build student interest and motivate them to learn in the short, medium and long term. But how can we easily find such resources?

Video games and mobile apps produced by authentic publishers often play an important role in this area. Their products usually go beyond language training and include lifelong learning skills like critical thinking. Useful resources you may want to consider include game apps, for example, from British Council; and online games, for instance, from JumpStart.

BRITISH COUNCIL JUMPSTART

Language Testing for UK Visas and Immigration

Going to the UK to study, work or live and needing evidence of English language proficiency? IELTS is the answer to all of these needs - IELTS is now the one and only test that is recognised and listed for all categories of UK visas and immigration. IELTS has this singular status because it accurately assesses how candidates use the four skills needed for all the different contexts in an English speaking world.

The UK government has recently introduced new requirements for secure English language testing for visa and immigration purposes. The rules are summarised below:

• From 6 April 2015, students outside the UK must take an IELTS (Academic) test at a test centre operated by the IELTS SELT Consortium. If you take an IELTS test at any other test centre, it will not be accepted.

• International students inside the UK can take an IELTS SELT Consortium test or one of the tests offered by Trinity College London: Integrated Skills in English Test or Graded Examinations in Spoken English. Trinity operates a small number of approved test centres at cities in the UK, including London, Birmingham and Manchester.

• IELTS, Cambridge English Exams and Pearson PTE tests taken on or before 5 April 2015 can be used to apply for a student visa up until 5 November 2015. Cambridge English Exams and Pearson PTE are no longer approved after this date. If you have an IELTS test certificate dated before 6 April 2015, and you want to apply for a student visa after 5 November 2015, you will need a new IELTS SELT Consortium test.

• The TOEFL Test is not accepted, regardless of when or where the test was taken.

More info from the UK government

More info on IETLS

31 Boulevards becomes official agent of Bell in Hong Kong, Macau and Southern China

31 Boulevards is pleased to announce the addition of Bell to its portfolio of offerings. Bell is an internationally recognized, high quality education services provider based in Cambridge. With 60 years of experience in English teaching, Bell is the perfect partner to help students and teachers improve their language skills and teaching qualifications. Over the last 10 years more than 100,000 students from over 90 countries have studied English at Bell in the UK alone.

In fact, by the time you read this, more than 60 students and teachers from Macau will have signed up for study tours (held at Wellington College and Bloxham School) and teacher training (held at Bell Cambridge) organized by Bell this summer.

More info on bell More info on Wellington College

More Info on Bloxham School