How to decide how close you are to an ideal LPE candidate

You can take the LPE online practice test to find out your score, but another way to judge is:

Are you an autonomous user of the English language in a range of contexts?  Do you read at the Guardian Weekly level comfortably without a dictionary?  Do you comfortably read a book without a dictionary?  Do you comfortably watch a film in the original version?  Do you regularly interact with native speakers comfortably in a range of conversational situations?  Do you write most of your emails in English?  Do you mostly answer the phone in English?

Or are you still a student of the language?  Do you spend a lot of time doing exercises with your nose in the grammar book or dictionary.  Are the books you consult most ones designed for learners of English or for native English speakers?

The LPE exam is designed to measure how autonomous and efficient (with time) you are using the language without grammar books or dictionaries or other help.

Listening and reading sites - many with transcripts

Name of site - author	Weblink
The English Blog	http://www.jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/
Guardian Weekly Learn English	http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/learningenglish  http://www.onestopenglish.com/
New York Times learning blog	http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/
United Nations multimedia	http://www.unmultimedia.org/ http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/21stcentury/  http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/unia/
ABC (C1)	http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/ http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/ http://www.abc.net.au/tv/
BBC	http://news.bbc.co.uk/   http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/ Easier for building up confidence: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/englishatwork/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/expressenglish/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/talkaboutenglish/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/talkingbusiness/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/business/getthatjob/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/multimedia/btp/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/
TED	http://www.ted.com/ http://www.ted.com/speakers
British Council	http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/ http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/business-and-work http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/professionals-podcasts
Euronews (B2)	Main news stories http://www.euronews.net/
Newsweek	http://www.newsweek.com/
Guardian Weekly	http://www.guardianweekly.co.uk/
Times online	http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/

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