Zhang Qian

    zhqcindy@163.com

    THE Translators Association of Shenzhen inked deals with China Language Assessment (CLA) of Beijing Foreign Studies University on Thursday to promote a new examination system known as English Test for International Communication (ETIC), which was developed by the center on assessing candidates’ English proficiency.

    The association will be ETIC’s sole agent in Shenzhen and responsible for the promotion and inquiry work.

    ETIC is a new English proficiency test developed by Beijing Foreign Studies University that is known as the leading foreign language university in China. Unlike many English language tests designed for students looking to get a higher level of education or study abroad, ETIC focuses on assessing candidates, mostly graduating students from universities or working staff.

    “The mode of the test is designed based on China’s needs in cultivating and assessing talents with international communication abilities,” said Wang Wenbin, assistant to the university’s president and also director of CLA.

    “We can all see that in the past decades, China has always been participating in an array of global events, but now the country is making its voice heard more widely and take a leading role in setting world standards in many aspects, thus we believe that a new test for assessing talents’ global communication abilities is very important,” said Wang during Thursday’s signing ceremony.

    The director of CLA’s research and development department, Han Baocheng, said that there are five different exams within the ETIC system. Each exam assesses candidates on various levels of English application skills with both spoken and written tasks.

    “The test is a task-based exam which requires exam-takers to finish several tasks within a certain amount of time in order to assess their proficiency in expressing their opinions, negotiating and debating both in writing and orally,” said the director.

    Han also said that ETIC is very much different from other English proficiency tests because it highlights the application of English in the workplace. “We incorporate the most widely seen tasks candidates might encounter in their workplace, such as writing formal business letters, negotiating with business partners or translating official government documents,” said Han.

    The first test of ETIC took place last year. Exam-takers can apply to sit for the test every May and November in capital cities of most provinces and major cities including Shenzhen.