ศาลาชุมนุม

[mhollow]

Hi all,

FYI, for foreign students of the Thai Language, applications for the Thai government's Language Competency Test (successor to the "Por Hok" exam) are open throughout this month. The exam will take place on 27th November 2010. Further information is available at the website of the Bureau of Education Testing:

http://bet.obec.go.th/eqa/images/2010/competencytest_2553.pdf
http://bet.obec.go.th/eqa/images/2010/competency-test%20.doc

Good luck!
Mark

[simonbournemouth]

Just out of interest, can good marks in this test be an aid to finding employment in Thailand?.. I'm basically asking what uses does this test have?

Thanks

[JingJo Thames]

Hm...very interesting. I missed this last year, but maybe I will do it this time around.

I would be interested to know its uses, as pointed out by คุณ Simon.

โจ้

[John]

Are there any examples of competency tests available on the internet?

[JingJo Thames]

If you can read through the color, this blog has some interesting information on the history of the competency test(s), and information on one administered by an independent Japanese organization...for Japanese speakers.

http://nowan.diaryis.com/2009/07/06

I know the US Government also has an official language proficiency test program for civilians that is, I believe, open to the public. I would imagine many other governments do as well, but am unsure myself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ILR_scale (information on the scale employed by the US Gov't.)

[mhollow]

Are there any examples of competency tests available on the internet?

Not that my teachers are aware of. They've said the government hasn't released any complete sample papers. However, In the "competency test.doc" file I've linked to above, there are a few sample questions for the reading & writing components of the exam.

Just out of interest, can good marks in this test be an aid to finding employment in Thailand?.. I'm basically asking what uses does this test have?

Well, I guess it can't hurt but whether hiring managers or HR departments will know anything about it is a different matter...

For me, I've taken a year off work to study Thai so this exam will serve two purposes for me: a) give me an independent assessment of my progress over the course of the year and b) a government exam will hopefully show a prospective employer that I've not been lazy for a year when I do start applying for work

Mark

[SlickMan]

Just wanted to know if the Thai proficiency test offered by Chulalongon University is that same as what you have been talking about:

http://www.stc.chula.ac.th/academic/non-native/CU-TFL