English LPE Preparation site

http://www.un.org/depts/OHRM/sds/lcp/English/elpe_resources.html

For UN staff members - access to materials on Moodle

Moodle Virtual Resource Centre registration form

Fill in and email to cwaites@unog.ch using your work email address.

Surname __________________________   Name ________________________

E-mail ______________________________________

Type of appointment  Permanent ___  Fixed-term ___  Short-term ___  Other ___

Contract’s expiry date _________________

Category  G __  P __ L __ D __ JPE __ Other

Organization _________________  Division __________  Office No ________

Office telephone number ____________________

Information to support your application to prepare for the ELPE

What studies have you done in English?  What exams have you successfully passed?  What posts have you held where English was the main language of communication?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

WHERE CAN I FIND MOODLE?


Web address    http://hrd.unctad.org/sdls/

If your registration is approved, you will receive an email giving you access information. 

MAIN STUDY METHODS

Explore the Virtual Resource Centre. Useful areas include the ‘LPE Guide and practice resources.’

‘Advanced level resources’ include additional practice in grammar, listening, reading and writing. 

VIRTUAL RESOURCE CENTRE (VRC)

How can I use the Virtual Resource Centre?
The VRC can be used to prepare for LPE exams as well as for additional studying beyond what has been discussed in class. In essence it is like the learning resource centre, but on line.


What kind of resources will be on the VRC?
LPE guides, online resources, directed self study materials etc.

Who is responsible for the VRC?
Language teachers are responsible for the content on the VRC. However, should you encounter any problems please do not hesitate to contact the language training programme intern.

When is the VRC available?
The VRC is available throughout the term and might be available during breaks as well; however, only the teacher has the right to decide what is available when.

Where is the VRC?
The VRC is available anywhere you have a computer and internet access, whether or not you are on the UN premises.

How do I access the VRC?
The VRC is accessible to any person enrolled in the language training programme. Log on to Moodle and with your username and password, and you will have access to the VRC. 

Is the Virtual Resource Centre the same as the Learning Resource Centre?
Although both avenues of learning, there are materials in the LRC that cannot be put on the VRC due to copyright laws.

You can work in three ways with the VRC:
Autonomously as you wish
Following the Advanced course autonomously
Following a Directed Self Study course with the aid of a teacher—you need to be enrolled.

LANGUAGE RESOURCE CENTRE

If you are enrolled in our classes, you are welcome to visit our Resource Centre in Annex Bocage 2 Room 109. It is open 12—2.30pm Monday to Friday and someone can help you.

You can work in many ways—on the computer accessing Moodle, with the internet, DVDs with worksheets, podcasts, reading comprehension and other exercises.

We also have a newspaper corner and a library of books you can borrow.

LPE Practice exam

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

Sign up to the Guardian Weekly

This journal is only available through subscription and is the best one for LPE Preparation - the articles are right on target!
https://www.myguardianweekly.co.uk/subscribe/default.aspx?prom=GC01

Enrolments in the Language Proficiency Examination are now open

Language Proficiency Examination
Enrolment period: 14 May - 15 June 2012

We are pleased to announce that the registration period for the 2012 Language Proficiency Examinations (LPE). 

The purpose of the LPE  is to test candidates' written and spoken knowledge in any of the six official languages of the United Nations.  
Candidates who pass one or more examinations may qualify for language-related incentives.

The written part of the 2012 LPE is scheduled to be held as follows:
 

• Tuesday, 04 September 2012: Chinese, English, Russian
• Wednesday, 05 September 2012: Arabic, French, Spanish

Candidates will be notified of the date and time of their oral examination on 4 and 5 September.

Please note that the registration process has changed.

For more information on the enrolment procedures, please refer to the link below: 
http://www.un.org/exam/lpe/application/main.asp

Please click on the below link to read the circular giving you eligibility requirements and fees.
http://learning.unog.ch/Portals/0/docs/Language/LPE/LPECirculare.pdf


Testing & Examination Unit
Staff Development & Learning Section (SDLS)
http://learning.unog.ch

LPE guide 2012

Written Part

The written part of the LPE consists of a series of multiple-choice questions covering listening comprehension, reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, and a composition.

Listening Comprehension	(25 points)	40 minutes
Reading Comprehension	(30 points)	60 minutes
Vocabulary	(10 points)	15 minutes
Grammar	(15 points)	25 minutes
Composition	(20 points)	50 minutes
Total	100 points	190 minutes

Subtest I : Listening Comprehension

The listening comprehension subtest consists of a series of recorded texts followed by multiple-choice questions. The texts will test comprehension of dialogues, single sentences, news items and an interview. Examples of these questions are available below. You will hear each text twice and you may take notes. The answers to these and to all other multiple-choice questions will be marked on a separate answer sheet. The approximate length of the listening comprehension subtest is forty minutes, the exact time depending on the length of the recorded texts. A pause is provided after each question for you to select your response.

Subtest II : Reading Comprehension

In the reading comprehension subtest, you will be given several passages to read. Most of the passages will be one or two paragraphs long while the remaining passages will each be five paragraphs long. After each of the shorter paragraphs, you will answer one or two multiple-choice questions, and after each of the longer passages, you will answer up to seven multiple-choice questions. The suggested time for this section, sixty minutes, should be ample for you to read the texts and mark your answers.

Subtest III : Vocabulary

The vocabulary subtest is made up of two types of questions. For the first ten questions, you will be asked to select the word which most logically and appropriately completes each sentence. In the following ten questions, you will choose the word closest in meaning to the underlined word in each sentence.

Subtest IV : Grammar

In the grammar subtest, you are given thirty sets of sentences. One of the sentences in each set is incomplete. You are to select the word or words that best fit the context both from a syntactic and logical point of view.

Subtest V : Composition

For the composition you will be given two topics, each related to work or personal experience. After choosing one topic, you will write at least 200 words in the examination booklet provided. Your writing will be principally judged on the basis of your control of vocabulary and syntax, the coherence of your paragraphs and your range of expression.

Oral Part

The oral part of the Proficiency Examination consists of an interview up to 15 minutes long, conducted by one person. The purpose of the oral part is to obtain a sample of the candidate�s linguistic competence in the language being tested. In order to preserve the anonymity of the candidates and to ensure that the grading of the oral part is fair and objective, the interview will be tape-recorded and all tapes will be coded and corrected anonymously.
United Nations Headquarters in New York will then listen to the taped interview and evaluate it on the basis of fluency, comprehension, correctness and range of expression.
As fluency and range of expression are important components of the overall evaluation, it is in your best interest to speak as much as possible during the interview. This will also give the evaluators the largest possible sample on which to base their evaluation.

Good sites for practising listening comprehension

British Council
http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts/
UN TV
http://www.un.org/webcast/unia/
Randall's ESL Lab - choose difficult level
http://www.esl-lab.com/