About this blog and explanation of terms

This blog aims to help candidates for the English Language Proficiency Examination (LPE) at the United Nations.


You must work in the United Nations system to qualify to take this exam or have come through our classes.

It is held annually in September

22 October 2010

More tips on the oral exam

Tips on How to Succeed

Before the Interview
  • Review the oral rating scale so that you know what the examiner will be checking for.
  • Practice beforehand by having a friend or colleague interview you with questions found on our recommended websites or other resources. You may want to record this and have a native English speaker listen to it with you to identify ways that you could have answered more naturally.
During the Interview
  • Relax. You are not expected to be perfect - just to be fluent enough to function easily in an English speaking office.  
  • Keep talking.  Try to give more than a 3 word answer to each question. The examiner wants to hear you talk more than the interviewer.  The examiner cannot easily give you a score if you only say 'yes' and 'no'.
  • Speak slowly, audibly and clearly.  If you tend to speak fast when you're nervous, try to speak slower.  You'll be understood bettter.  If you usually have a soft voice, make an effort to speak louder.  It's impossible for an examiner to give you a score if s/he can't hear you.
  • Don't say your name.  To be fair to all test candidates, you are not allowed to say your name during the interview.  
  • Feel free to take control of the conversation.  Interviewers have been advised to avoid talking about politics or other sensitive topics - but have not been given exact questions to ask.  Thus, the content is not as important as your appearing 'fluent' - and a fluent conversationalist sometimes changes the subject.  For example, especially if it's related to the question asked, you can follow with "You know, that reminds me of...", or "Have your heard about....?".  You might also want to bring a prop to the interview.  For example, if you put a book or other interesting item on the table in front of you, it's very possible that theinterviewer will ask you about it - or perhaps you can find a way to bring it into the conversation.
  • Don't memorize - or give a lecture.  Remember that this is meant to be a conversation, not a recording of you reading, saying something you memorized or giving a lecture to your interviewer.  Experienced examiners can hear it if you do this - and it tends to lower your score.

21 October 2010

Description of the oral exam

The oral exam is a 15-minute interview (talk) with either a full-time English teacher (UNHQ, UNOG) or with a designated interviewer (OAH).  Candidates registered for the LPE are assigned a 15-minute time slot for the oral interview. The oral interviews usually take place just after the written exam - but at some duty stations, they may happen before.
The interview is very informal. The candidate and the interviewer (English teacher) chat about whatever topics arise such as the candidate’s job, home country; travels, hobbies, interests, or family.  The important thing is for the candidate to speak as much as possible and to demonstrate the ability to discuss a variety of topics.
The interviewer/teacher does not evaluate the candidate; the interview is recorded and the recording is sent to outside evaluators who listen and assign a score for the candidate based on the oral rating scale.

Oral rating scale for oral exam

United Nations English Language Proficiency Exam (LPE)
Oral Rating Scale




90-100              Bilingual. Speech is fluent and idiomatic. Pronunciation is native or very clear. It is evident that the candidate had had long and intensive exposure to the spoken language and probably uses it as a primary language.

80-89                Working knowledge. Speech is fluent but definitely non-native. The candidate can sustain conversation, i.e. the candidate can bring up new topics, move freely over a wide variety of topics and provide detailed information easily. Overall, the candidate interacts comfortably with the interviewer, and has probably had intensive experience with the language in a native language environment. Any mistakes in vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation do not impede the flow of communication.

75-79                Superior candidate with limited experience in a native-speaking environment. Candidate has enough control over the language to discuss a variety of topics and is capable of sustaining the conversation in some of them. However, fluency, range of expression, and vocabulary usage are not fully developed.

70-74                Candidate is willing to discuss many topics; however, speech is not smooth and may become laboured if a topic is too complex or needs expansion. The candidate can definitely discuss a variety of topics and engage in a general conversation; however, fluency is uneven or rate of speech is very deliberate.

65-69                Minimal pass. The candidate is able to express him/herself coherently in complete sentences over a variety of topics; however, there is great hesitancy and effort evident in the performance. Vocabulary and range of expression are basic.

55-64                Communication breaks down. Candidate is either very hesitant to speak or cannot find adequate vocabulary to express his or her ideas. Responses are often very short and do not consist of complete sentences. The candidate depends heavily on the interviewer for prompts and show persistent comprehension problems. The interviewer is restricted in the types of topics introduced.

18 October 2010

Good luck for tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the written exam so I wish you all good luck!

11 October 2010

LPE update

Letters have gone out by email with invitations to take the exam.  The exam will take place on 19 October at 2pm and will end at approximately 6.30pm  You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the start to register.

Bring along black or blue pens, pencils (number 2) and eraser.  I also suggest bringing along a pencil sharpener, a ruler, white out or other pen eraser equipment.

The written part of the exam cannot be changed.  On the same letter you will have a date and time for your oral exam.  This can be changed if necessary.  Contact the examiner if you are on mission or have another appointment at the same time.

01 July 2010

Good websites found today

For audio and transcripts of different native speakers (you have to sign up for previous stuff but today's is free)
http://www.spotlight-online.de/audio

For exercises and lessons on holidays
http://www.eslholidaylessons.com/

29 June 2010

LPE exam registration is now open from today till Tuesday 20 July 2010

Anyone currently enrolled in level 8 or above can apply to take this exam regardless of their attendance or end of term result.  Anyone who was enrolled in level 8 in the past may also apply to take this exam.

Send me an email if you don't have access to the UN broadcasts and if you fit the criteria.  cwaites@unog.ch

For others, read the circular and see if you fit the criteria.

The English written exam (composition, listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary) is on Tuesday 19 October from 14:00-17:30.  This date cannot be changed.

The orals are taken following the exam and you can change the date if you are unable to come when we set it.






18 June 2010

Recipe for success in the LPE in a few easy steps

Here is the recipe for success!!

1 For formal multiple choice practice of reading and listening skills: - BARRON'S - Practice Exercises for the TOEFL - with six audio CDs - 6th edition / Pamela J. Sharpe

2 For regular fun reading of a newspaper style, take out a 6 month subscription to The Week
http://www.theweek.co.uk/
For more serious reading, subscribe to the Guardian Weekly

3 For light romantic fiction, read books by Susan Lewis, Tony Parsons (NOT Stories we could tell but others are all good), Mary Higgins-Clark for example. No dictionary!
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/p/tony-parsons/
http://www.susanlewis.com/
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/mary-higgins-clark/

For crime, thrillers or mystery novels, go to amazon.co.uk and search 'crime, thrillers or mystery' to find one you like, then order it from your favourite site

4 Many students like graded readers (top level) with CDs to listen to in the car, or audio books
http://penguinreaders.com/

5 Regularly practise writing on topics timing yourself and then check with the microsoft grammar and spell checker or give your essay to a native speaker friend to comment on or correct in exchange for a coffee! For topics, see the page with 'writing topics' on this site.

6 Go to the cinema every week to see a film in English. Or get out a DVD every week. And watch BBC or CNN news every night.

28 April 2010

LPE exam results are out!

http://www.un.org/exam/lpe/welcome/main.asp

If you go to the above website you will see the results are out! However, people in Geneva may have to wait up to two weeks to get theirs.

31 March 2010

Spring 2010 term

The spring 2010 term begins on April 19, 2010. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Welcome All!

Welcome to the blog for the Staff Development and Learning Section languages department. Here you will be able to find links to information concerning the LPE, how to sign up for classes, and tips and tricks for developing your language skills.