Although TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) are quite popular in India, ETS – the body that organises these assessments – is now focusing on TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). Rohit Sharma, senior vice-president, Global Mobility Solutions, ETS, told FE’s Vikram Chaudhary that TOEIC measures your readiness for the workforce in a native English-speaking setting, and English communication is a very important skill in the global business world. Excerpts:
How is TOEIC different from TOEFL – both are English-language assessments?
TOEFL is for those planning to pursue higher education in a native English-speaking setting, and it measures your English-language skills in an academic context – you’ve to write research papers, respond to classroom discussions, write a case study, and so on.
TOEIC, on the other hand, measures your readiness for the workforce in a native English-speaking setting, and is the world’s largest English-language assessment. English communication is a very important skill in the global business world – how to respond to emails, how to reply to a chat, how to put together a memo in English.
Why are you focusing on TOEIC now?
We now see a market opportunity for TOEIC – as more and more Indians at all levels are joining the global workforce. The government is focusing on skills through the Skill India Mission, and let’s say a rural student from an ITI who has skilled herself in an auto trade gets a job in the US or the Middle East, English communication can fast-track her career.
TOEIC is not just for those who want to go abroad, but also for those who want to fast-track their career within the country. A TOEIC assessment will make your resume strong.
How will you make TOEIC popular?
We have a three-pronged approach:
1. We will bring successful case studies from other parts of the world. For example, TOEIC has been running in Japan for 46 years (it started in 1979), and Japan’s business evolution has been, in part, ensured by the English communication skills of the Japanese expats who have worked across the world.
2. We will do pilots with major corporates, so that they can see robustness of this assessment.
3. We will have the usual go-to-marketing strategy – talking to universities, students, industry bodies, CHROs, etc.
How much will it be priced?
It will be reasonable and affordable, and we are debating on the pricing structure.
Is it a single test?
We call it the TOEIC tests – listening and reading test (assesses intermediate to advanced English-language listening and reading skills needed in the workplace); speaking and writing test (intermediate to advanced English-language speaking and writing proficiency needed in the workplace); and Bridge tests (measures English-language listening, reading, speaking and writing skills for beginner to intermediate learners, for everyday use).
What kind of skills should Indian students work on?
I think Indians are hardworking, analytical, and good with numbers and technology, but oral communication in a foreign language, preferably English, is an area to work on – it possibly is a low-hanging fruit, because English is so much a part of Indian environment, I mean it’s everywhere, and comes naturally to Indians.