ALTE - Association of Language Testers in EuropeALTE - the Association of Language Testers in Europe - is an association of providers of foreign language examinations. It was founded in 1989 by the Universities of Cambridge and Salamanca and now has 27 members representing 23 languages.ALTE aims to make it easier for the various certifications within Europe to be standardised and accurately rated by employees. This is particularly important as the barriers between European countries are removed and the workforce is becoming increasingly mobile.BULATS was developed by the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes (German), the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (English), the Alliance Français (Französisch) and the Universidad de Salamanca (Spanish).
The Goethe-Institut is a non-profit-making, publicly funded organisation based in Munich. It was founded in 1951 to promote a wider knowledge of the German language abroad and to foster cultural co-operation with other countries. In 2001 it merged with Inter Nationes into the Goethe-Institut Inter Nationes. As a worldwide organisation it now has over 140 centres in 76 countries and helps over 108,000 students. The Goethe-Institut plays an important role in providing access to German language and culture all over the world and offers a range of German language examinations, ranging from 'threshold' (basic) level to very advanced. The examinations are internationally recognised qualifications in German.
Every year more than half a million people take Cambridge examinations in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The Cambridge EFL examinations are known all over the world and are recognised by universities, employers and national education authorities in many countries. They are run by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) - one of the world's largest and best known educational assessment agencies.
Alliance Française is a state-approved, non-profit making organisation, founded in 1883. It is dedicated to the teaching and dissemination of French language and culture, and has over 1300 centres serving 380,000 students in 133 countries. All over the world the Alliance offers a variety of cultural activities and courses at all levels for people of all ages and occupations. It also offers seven different diplomas in language, civilisation, literature, business French and commercial translation, all set and marked in Paris.
Founded in 1218, the Universidad de Salamanca has a strong international scientific and intellectual reputation, due in part to its promotion of Spanish language and culture, and its teaching and research activities in the field of Spanish as a foreign language. The University is responsible for developing, setting, marking and evaluating the official Diplomas in Spanish as a Foreign Language which are issued and certified by the Ministry of Education and Culture and by the Instituto Cervantes . For further information please visit www.alte.org. |
