The first question I get asked by IENs preparing for the CELBAN is, “How much does it cost?” But is that really the most important question you should be asking?
The Question You Should Be Asking
The first question you should be asking is, “How will you prepare me for the CELBAN? What skills will you teach me?” To judge their answer and determine whether they are truly qualified, you need to understand what the CELBAN exam is all about.
The Hidden Costs of Cheap Courses
As someone pointed out to me yesterday, there is a cost to free and inexpensive items: the costs are “intangible.” It isn’t about losing money; it’s about losing time, energy, motivation, and confidence.
- How much is it worth for you to lose motivation and confidence because you failed to get the required score on an exam because you chose the wrong school, organization, coach, or tutor?
- How much is it worth for you to waste time and money on a CELBAN course with someone who knows nothing about the exam or how to teach you the required skills?
Why CELBAN Crash Courses Won’t Cut It
Taking a 10-day CELBAN Crash course won’t help you pass the exam.
Taking a 3-day CELBAN course won’t help you pass the exam.
Knowing what questions to ask before you spend money will help you “discern” whether the option before you will really help you build your confidence and motivation to achieve your dreams of life in Canada.
What Will They Test You On?
Let’s start with the 5 things they will be testing you on during the CELBAN, so that when you consider taking a CELBAN course, you know what questions to ask. And, taking it one step further, I will give you the questions to ask!
What the examiners and regulators want to know is:
“Do you have the ability to plan what you want to say, figure out how to say it, and fix any problems if things go wrong?”
2. Sociolinguistic Knowledge
They also want to know if you know how to use language in a way that fits the situation you’re in and the people you’re talking to.
“Do you understand the social rules of communication, so you can speak and write in a way that’s considered polite, natural, and appropriate for different contexts?”
3. Functional Knowledge
Finally, they want to know if you understand and use language in a way that gets your message across effectively.
“Do you know not only what to say, but also how to say it depending on what you want to have happen in a conversation or piece of writing?”
Can You Master These Skills in 10 Days?
Now that you understand what they are asking you to do, do you believe that in just3 or 10 days, you can master the ability to plan, adapt, and effectively communicate in any situation, while understanding and applying the social rules and nuances of language?
No. It cannot be done.
Not in 3 days.
Not in 10 days.
It takes time—lots of time—to practice these skills so that you can do all of that naturally.
The Essential Questions to Ask
Then the question to ask the schools, organizations, coaches, and tutors is:
“How will you help me to learn how to plan, adapt, and effectively communicate in any medical situation, while understanding and applying the social rules and nuances of language?”
The Final Two Skills You Need
But I said there were 5 things that you are being tested on during the CELBAN. I only talked about 3. What are the other 2?
4. Grammatical Knowledge
Understanding how to use grammar and vocabulary correctly when making sentences. They want to know:
“Can you build sentences that follow the rules of language, making sure they make sense and are easy to understand: both in writing and when speaking?”
The ability to connect sentences and ideas in a way that makes them flow smoothly and logically when you’re speaking or writing. That is what they will be looking for:
“Can you create clear and understandable communication, whether in a conversation, writing an essay, or writing a report?”
Ensuring You Get the Right Preparation
These last two are pretty basic skills that all teachers teaching English should be focusing on. But it is best not to make the assumption that they will. Prepare yourself with the following question:
“How will you teach me how to write and speak clearly, so that my sentences flow smoothly and logically while also following the rules of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure?”
The Right Preparation Makes All the Difference
When choosing a CELBAN course, whether it be through a school, organization, coach, or writing tutor, to ensure your success, choose someone who can teach you all of these skills in a way that fits into your lifestyle so that when you take the exam, you are confident because you were motivated in your studies and preparation.
Before you hire someone to help you prepare for the CELBAN, before you take a CELBAN course, make sure you are asking the right questions. It will save you time, money, energy, motivation, and confidence!
All the best,
Kim
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