Abstract:

The Language Centre in Brno (LC), which is part of the University of Defence of the Czech Republic, organises English language courses as part of lifelong military education at the elementary (approximately level 1, corresponding to CEFR level A2), intermediate (approximately level 2, corresponding to CEFR level B1), and upper-intermediate (approximately level 3, corresponding to CEFR level B2+/C1) levels. Passing the course final examinations at the end of the intensive and upgrade courses is crucial for our learners as they have to meet the criteria in compliance with the Career Rules stated by the Ministry of Defence. Therefore, these exams are for them of a very high stakes nature, with far-reaching academic, career, and often personal implications.

The Ministry of Defence management considers a careful selection of military personnel into level 3 English courses based on American Language Course Placement Test (ALCPT) one of the most significant success factors. Thus, the study aimed at identifying to what extend the entrance knowledge of English is a precondition for passing STANAG 6001, level 3 at the end of courses. The specific study question was as follows: What entrance ALCPT score is a prerequisite to succeed in the final exam consisting of all language skills at the end of intensive and upgrade courses?

The research is based on data collection carried out between the academic years of 2012 and 2019 at the Language Centre of the University of Defence in Brno. The data include the learners’ entry ALCPT scores as well as their final exam results (passing all language skills at level 3). Moreover, the data comprise success rates in particular productive and receptive language skills. During the period examined, 130 learners attended intensive courses, while 56 took part in upgrade courses.

The findings based on the data analysis indicate that an entrance placement test score between 91 and 100 appears to be an acceptable prerequisite to success in both intensive and upgrade courses, taking into consideration that the level 3 course success rate stated by the Ministry of Defence is 50 %. An ACLPT score range of 81-90 may be considered sufficient for learners tasked with achieving level 3 proficiency in only some language skills, primarily in receptive ones. Nevertheless, from the authors’ point of view, entrance ALCPT scores are not fully relevant because ALCPT exams focus exclusively on assessing receptive skills only to a certain extent, which is not in compliance with the entrance requirements for listening and reading comprehension at the upper-intermediate level. Moreover, there is a lack of any entrance assessment of speaking and writing ability although speaking and writing constitute half of the examinations in accordance with STANAG 6001. Based on the above-mentioned, the authors suggest complementing the ALCPTs with testing productive skills at the upper-intermediate level.

Keywords:

Adult learners, military environment, entrance placement test score, course success rates.