This year marks 10 years since the launch of the Global Scale of English (GSE) and what a journey it has been. As we celebrate this important milestone, it’s time to reflect on everything that has been achieved over the past decade.
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The GSE is both a proficiency scale and a language framework designed to provide a detailed understanding of learners' English levels. It is the result of extensive global research and goes beyond other language measurement tools, such as the CEFR, to offer unparalleled insights into learners' skills.
The GSE ensures precise learner placement and measurable progress tracking. It provides tangible insights into learners' English language competencies, boosting motivation and confidence.
Accurately place learners: Easily pinpoint reading, writing, listening and speaking skills on the simple 10-90 scale.
Measure and fast-track progress: Learning objectives describing what learners 'can do' at each point on the scale enable the creation of personalized learning journeys, short-term learning goals and the monitoring of progress towards these goals.
In just a decade, the GSE has grown to support educators, learners and businesses across diverse learning stages and languages. Now, with the Global Scale of Languages (GSL), it also supports learners of French, German, Italian and Spanish.
From the initial set of 100 new GSE Learning Objectives, we now have almost 4,000 for all types of learners, from pre-primary to adults learning English for academic study and work. Our resources include comprehensive grammar and vocabulary databases, text analysis software and job-specific tools, all aligned to the GSE.
We wouldn’t be where we are today without the support of thousands of people around the world. This includes researchers, psychometricians and the 6,000+ teachers who collaborated with us to rate and validate the new learning objectives.
The GSE's journey is marked by many key milestones that highlight its growth and impact on global language education. Here are but a few notable achievements to showcase how far the GSE has come.
Plans and frameworks: The GSE resources provide guidance and support for the language learning process. Key educational frameworks, including Pre-Primary Learning Objectives, Young Learner Learning Objectives, Adult Learning Objectives, Academic Learning Objectives and Professional Learning Objectives, have been developed to help support English teaching in all contexts and for all ages. Educators can use these frameworks to deliver effective lessons, plan curriculums, shape learning and develop lessons further.
Recognition and awards: Recognition for the GSE by other education bodies such as the Council of Europe (CEFR), EAQUALS, NEAS and ACCET has strengthened its reputation within the worldwide education community. Furthermore, the GSE's nomination for the British Council ELTons Award for Innovation in Teacher Resources in 2020 further demonstrates its value and growing recognition.
Tools and applications: Teachers and students can benefit from the GSE Toolkit and GSE Text Analyzer. These tools provide helpful resources for educators and learners to make the most of the GSE. The GSE Job Profiles tool is an innovative resource that connects language learning with specific job requirements.
Global Scale of Languages expansion: It doesn’t just stop with English either. The GSE's expansion now includes the Global Scale of Languages (GSL) for French, German, Spanish and Italian, demonstrating our commitment to supporting language learners and educators across multiple languages.
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The 10-year anniversary of the Global Scale of English represents a significant milestone in language education. The GSE, a key part of Pearson's learning programs, aims to provide precise, accurate, and personalized learning for students worldwide. We look forward to another decade of supporting learners, educators and businesses.
Find out about the GSE today and how it can enhance your educational journey.
English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, but how much do you know about the language? Here are 11 facts about English that you might not know.
Students all over the globe learn English for many reasons. Some of these motivations may come from the students themselves – perhaps they are learning because they are travelling to an English-speaking area, or they want to be able to converse with English-speaking friends and colleagues. Other reasons for learning could include meeting school requirements, studying abroad, or progressing their careers.
As well as different reasons to learn English, there are also different goals. Many students are still focused on becoming fluent in English, and we are seeing an increase in people who want to learn the language for specific reasons. For example, immersing themselves in a particular culture or simply being able to order from a menu while travelling abroad.
Teachers are focusing on these personal needs to help students achieve their actual goals. It’s likely you’ve already spoken to your students about why they want to learn English. Understanding this is important as different motivations can influence a student’s attitude towards learning the language – and it may be necessary for you to adapt your teaching strategies for different groups of learners.
Let’s meet some different groups of students, learn a little more about their motivations and explore whether different motivations alter how students learn English. You may recognise some of these learners in your classes.
These students are learning English for pleasure or personal reasons. It might be because of travel, social or family reasons or perhaps because a better grasp of English might assist them with their careers. There are also adult learners who could be learning English as an immigration requirement.
For example, 23-year-old Alice decided to learn English so she could meet people and have more meaningful interactions with her English-speaking neighbours. She says: “I was very shy and not very confident in speaking to people, but learning English helped me connect with others and meet new people. I have changed a lot.”
A motivation like Alice’s requires strong teacher support and peer motivation woven into structured learning. Alice can set her goals and with the GSE Learning Objectives map out what she needs to do to achieve them. Teacher encouragement and personal support – and easy access to digital coursework, a social community of others all learning English, and small classes that emphasise conversation – keep people like Alice engaged and motivated to achieve her language goals. “I cannot do it without them”, she says.
These learners are typically in a more formal type of English programme and are learning the language to achieve specific career milestones, such as a promotion. Their employer might even be paying for their learning or they might be reimbursed for the cost of their lessons.
Vincenzo is 33 and works as a Product Manager in Milan for an international organization with offices around the world. He says: “I asked to take English classes as part of my professional development. My company chose an English provider and gave me a choice of group or one-to-one classes. I chose one-to-one classes as I’m easily distracted.”
Professional learners like Vincenzo succeed using a blended learning model of learning in class and at home that they can tailor around their lives. They have a strong motivation to succeed – that’s why learning at home works for them – but step-by-step progress provided by the GSE Learning Objectives is also important to keep this motivation alive. “I met with my teacher once a week where we would work on mistakes I would make while speaking English. He would also give me extra practice materials, like interesting games and videos to listen to in my own time, to help me really get a better understanding of the language,” Vincenzo says.
Learning English is a requirement for many school programmes and students will continue this at college or university. Many of these students will be learning English with a formal course that offers practice tests for high-stakes exams.
Seventeen-year-old Subra is from Malaysia and learns English at school. Some of her family live in Australia and she is considering studying abroad to attend a University that specializes in health care. When she was young, she learned in a traditional classroom backed with tests that helped her see how she was progressing. Now she uses technology, such as her Android Huawei phone to practise her English but still needs the validation of regular testing to know she is on track.
Subra says: “I am used to studying for tests as I prepared hard for exams to get into middle school and senior school, which was totally determined by test results.”
Academic learners like Subra need to see demonstrable results to help them stay motivated and guide them to the level of English they need to achieve to get the required score on high-stakes tests. With the clear GSE Learning Objectives and a placement test, academic learners can map out where they are right now and where they need to be in order to reach their academic goals. These learners need encouragement and validation of their progress from their teachers to help keep them on track.
Understanding student motivations will help you teach to their specific needs, thus helping them to stay focused and motivated in achieving their goals.
A shared language is central to many families, and this can carry extra meaning when your children are growing up in a country that speaks a different language. It's not just about words; it's about culture, identity and connection. If you'd like to teach your kids the language that holds a special place in your heart, here are some tips to get you started.
