The Examiner’s Corner - Episode 3

Pipplet’s Language Examiners are an important part of our business operations. Making sure we are selecting the best possible examiners to not only evaluate our tests but also to represent the brand, is essential.

Isobel is one of our Pipplet Language Examiners and has been teaching languages for over 45 years. Her passion for teaching languages had begun while she had been a teacher in England, prohibited from teaching in the French system at the time. As a response, Isobel obtained a CELTA, a special qualification that is The Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. According to the British Council, candidates who earn a CELTA, “...can begin working in a variety of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL, TESOL) - also known as Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) - contexts around the world.” This helped launch Isobel’s professional career in linguistics, leading her down a path to ultimately join our examiner network.

Isobel, what are some of your favorite things about working at Pipplet?

The professional and helpful presence, even if at a distance has been a pleasure. Also, the fact that the team is constantly upgrading the tests frequently to ensure they are not dated.

How has working for Pipplet changed your approach to teaching?

Actually, I no longer teach but when I did, I always concentrated on competencies for professional language learning for adults. So seeing Pipplet reinforces that same methodology is a breath of fresh air. Especially when tests are designed for adult professionals, like the Pipplet Talent test, compared to other tests that are more suited for students in universities.

In the end, why would you recommend the Pipplet test for corporate recruiters and language learning centers?

I would definitely recommend the Pipplet tests for adult professionals. They truly answer the important question for recruiters in knowing how well a potential employee can speak and be understood in a professional context, despite small grammatical errors and simple structures.

Quick Tipplet 3: At Pipplet, we avoid multiple choice questions because they don’t allow candidates the space to demonstrate how they can handle cognitive demands, particularly in the workplace, in another language. Our test method follows the approach of asking more situational test questions because they can predict, more closely, job success, readiness, ability, you name it.