Introduction

Registered guides and students on guide training courses are required to take an oral language test before guiding in any language(s) other than their first language. On passing the test, registered guides will be issued with the Institute of Tourist Guiding Language Proficiency Certificate and the language(s) tested will be included in the guide's entry on the Institute Register, Guild List, APTG Register etc.

 

Test Standard

The linguistic standard expected will be high enough to ensure:

• an interesting and well-balanced commentary delivered in a confident manner over a full day;
• ease of conversation with visitors giving additional information and explanations when requested;
• importantly, taking into account that English commentaries are given to a wide representation of visitors from the English-speaking world and to those who have come to the UK to hear and sometimes learn English 'at source', that the accent is one to which a native English speaker can listen with ease for as long as a full day.

The examiners will put themselves in the position of visitors whose first language is English, and will therefore look for the following in the candidate's performance:

• Accent/Clarity: The guide must speak with a clear accent, without strong foreign or regional distortions. Intonation must not be unduly influenced by mother tongue. Colloquialisms which are not commonly accepted in standard educated speech must be avoided since they have been known to cause offence and misunderstandings.
• Fluency: Guides have to impart a great deal of information in a very short time and they should not have to search for words in order to express what they wish to say, nor falter unduly in their delivery. Their speech should be interesting and precise, and should avoid undue repetition.
• Grammar and vocabulary: Grammatical accuracy must be sufficient to avoid misunderstanding, although a certain number of minor errors can be tolerated. Vocabulary must be sufficiently detailed and varied to give an accurate and interesting account of the places described. A vast knowledge of technical words (e.g. architectural features) is not required, although variation in vocabulary is important.
• Comprehension: Guides should be able to understand the standard educated form of the language when spoken clearly, at native speed.

 

The Test at Levels 3 & 4

The test lasts approximately 30 minutes and consists of four parts which may be presented in any order:

Part A:  Sight Reading     7 minutes
A passage of about 100 words, taken from an English document, will be read. Suitable sources of text include travel and hotel announcements, instructions of various kinds, money changing procedures, timetables, lists of regulations. Candidates will be handed the text by the examiners, and will be given up to 2 minutes to study it before reading it. The examiner may ask the candidate to explain particular words or phrases.

Part B:  Gist Summary     8 minutes
A passage of about 250 words will be set, taken from an English document, from which the candidate will be expected to summarise the important information in his/her own words in English. Suitable sources of text include historical/lyrical site information, guide books and brochures.

The candidate will be handed the text by the examiners and will be given up to 3 minutes to study and make short notes before summarising it. The oral summary should convey the information contained in the text in the candidate's own words; it should be a fluent paraphrase rather than an exact translation, but the information conveyed should nevertheless be faithful to the original text which will be removed from the candidate. The examiner may ask the candidate to explain particular words or phrases.

Part C:  Prepared Talk     5 minutes
From the list of topics below candidates should choose two topics. Prepare a lively five minute talk about each of these two topics to present to the examiner. The examiner will select one of these two topics for you to speak about without notes. Your talk should be as wide ranging as possible and should include a good variety of vocabulary. NB This is a test of your language skills not a test of facts nor of guiding skills.

• The UK perspective on the Euro
• Nearby places of interest
• Local literary figures
• Links between the UK and the culture your visitors come from
• Local night life
• Parks and green spaces
• Local customs and traditions
• Reality shows on British TV
• Sport
• The local education system

Part D:  General Conversation     10 minutes
The aim of this part of the test is to ascertain the guide's general oral competence. The examiners may ask questions about any aspect of the guide's job, interests and background, together with any other matters of general interest. The conversation is intended to reflect the kind of conversation which may well develop in normal circumstances between a guide and a tourist.

 

Results

Candidates will be notified formally in writing by the Institute of Tourist Guiding shortly after the test has been taken. They will take the form of a Pass or recommended Re-sit (Grade 4 shorter term, Grade 5 longer term). A Pass will constitute an endorsement in that language and will be added to the guide's entry on the Register.

 

Application Deadline: 14 October 2011

Fee 2011: £85 per language

Language Exam Levels 3/4 Application Form