One of the main and biggest concerns when taking an official English exam is to know if it will last a lifetime or, on the contrary, if it will have an expiration date. In this article we tell you everything you need to know about it and what you will need it for.
When will I need the official Cambridge qualification?
The first thing you should know is that Cambridge English qualifications (KET, PET, FCE; CAE, CPE) do not expire. However, they indicate the date on which they wereThe title of the title, if it is an old one, may suggest that you have lost some knowledge over time. This may have repercussions in some jobs or job interviews, where adn addition to asking for your title, they will want it to be as recent as possible. You should know that, in order to apply for many jobs, you will only need to prove your language skills by speaking the language.
Another of the reasons why it is common to accredit the language officially, apart from for personal satisfaction and to build a resume, is to be able to graduate in some careers or to go to live in a foreign country. This is very common in ERASMUS students, as it guarantees that the student will have a sufficient level to understand and follow the classes. Although in most countries your Cambridge certificate will be valid, regardless of its date of issue, there are others where the regulations are somewhat more rigid, so it is essential that you inform yourself and contact us if you have any doubts.
Exceptions
As is common, there is always the exception (or exceptions in this case) that proves the rule. Cambridge IELTS and BULATS qualifications are valid for two years. In other words, they expire every two years.
IELTS: known as International English Language Testic System, it is one of the most important English certifications in the world and is very useful for studies, job opportunities, migration and even tourism.
BULATS: is the acronym for Business Language Testing Service and is an exam that tests your knowledge through real-life situations. There are more than 20,000 organizations that accept this qualification.
Why is it necessary to obtain an official English language qualification?
Nowadays, the majority of companies require the ability to speak another language, with English being the most demanded language. If you have an official qualification, such as the ones you can obtain through our exam preparation classes If you have an official qualification, it will surely help you to pass a first filter in any pre-selection and, in addition, it will show your effort and predisposition for having accredited the language. However, you should keep in mind that just having the degree on your resume is not enough. In fact, it is very likely that you will be asked to take an English test to prove that you really have the level.
Frequently asked questions about Cambridge English qualifications
What are the Cambridge exams?
The exams issued by Cambridge certify your level of English. They are one of the most demanded official exams in Europe and worldwide.
Do Cambridge exams have an expiration date?
No. Cambridge exams do not expire, but they indicate the date of issue, so some places may ask you for a more current accreditation. There is an exception for IELTS and BULATS, which expire every two years.
What levels of English are assessed by the Cambridge exams?
The official Cambridge exams range from A2 to C2 level, as follows: KEY (A2), PET (B1), FCE (B2), CAE (C1) and CPE (C2).
Parents often wonder what they can do to support their children’s learning at home. Whether it is math, science or English as a second language, parental involvement in their child’s education is essential to the child’s success in school and in the learning process. This is especially true when the child is learning English, as he/she has very little opportunity to listen to, practice and use English outside of the 3-4 hours per week spent in English class. So, if you’ve been wondering what you can do to help your child learn English, here are some tips you can do at home (or anywhere, really!) that will advance your child’s English skills even faster.
Motivate them through technology
Similarly, and also for older children and teenagers, make sure that your devices and game consoles are set to English and, more importantly, that the game is in English. Few things motivate children and teenagers more than technology. And no wonder: as digital natives, our children’s generation was born into a world where technology is not only everywhere, but indispensable in our daily lives.
Where there is motivation, there is interest and, therefore, better learning. Buy your child’s next video game in English and create the need for him to learn the words used and understand the language being spoken. For older teens, multiplayer video games are a great way for them to practice their English speaking skills with other gamers from around the world who do not speak their language.
Here are a few websites where your children can play games, watch interactive videos and even write stories in English while
while having fun:
It’s not exactly a game, but it’s one of my favorites: a story starter to get children’s imaginations going and inspire them to write a story in English: The Story Starter.
Music is deeply linked to memory
Finally, I want to share one of the most effective yet simple English teaching methods that teachers use in their classrooms: !the songs and rhythms! The music is repetitive and rhythmic, which helps us to learn English more easily and in an enjoyable way.
When a person listens to a song over and over again, he or she begins to learn the words little by little, then the structures, and during this process is learning pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and pitch. In addition, listening to music and singing is fun and motivating for children, as well as a good way for them to gain confidence and practice their speaking skills. Cambridge suggests “for children aged 5 to 11, choosing songs with lots of rhyming words and rhythms that are repeated. This makes it easier for children to learn new words and start singing along.” On the other hand, for older teenagers, songs are the perfect opportunity to combine their interests with learning English. They will definitely be motivated to understand and learner a song in English if you enjoy listening to it. Take a look at Lyrics Training to find a fun and interactive music listening game.
And if you want to go further…
If you are already doing all of the above or just want more ideas to help your child improve their English even more, here are some out-of-the-ordinary ideas you may not have considered:
Sometimes the simple things are the most effective. Simply talking about English classes or learning English helps your child reflect on what he or she has learned and consolidate his or her memory. Ask him about a word he learned that day or a game or activity that made him happy and encourage him to talk.
Get out the label maker (or just use post-its) and help your kids learn the words for the most common objects in English by labeling them. repetition is key to memory retention, so if every time your child wants to use his favorite toy truck, he sees “TRUCK” written on it, he’s sure to remember it and start using it in the future.
Fancy spending some time with your child on a nice Sunday morning? Prepare with them a delicious recipe or a nice craft following the instructions in English. Go to the Highlight Kids youtube channel and search for your favorite recipe or craft; help your child learn basic English instructions and vocabulary, while having fun and learning life skills. Active learning, or learning by doing, is one of the best ways to help your child learn English.
Learning English yourself is the best way to help your child make progress in learning English. Being able to use the language with them is a great opportunity for them to practice their speaking and listening skills. In addition, learning together can be a very motivating experience for children.
And of course… let’s see it in English.
We’ll end with the easiest but also the one that will end up influencing your child quite a bit: put the TV (or streaming platform) in English. During the early development of the child, the brain acquires and develops all the sounds that belong to its mother tongue, so that the child is able to use them in vocal speech.
The brain does this by analyzing everything the child hears and transforming it into mouth movements that the child can imitate to produce a specific sound. How many times did you repeat “mommy” or “daddy” to your child before he or she was able to say it? They have to hear a word said on different occasions, by different people, before they try it. You can help your child learn English by exposing him to the sounds and rhythm of the English language so that it will be easier for him to repeat them in the future. If you think that changing the scenario is not enough, you can try more practical strategies. Help your child become aware of sounds by playing with refrigerator magnets: start with “cat” and then change one letter to make “mat” or “bat.” Children also love silly tongue twisters that unknowingly help them differentiate and practice similar sounds. Another alternative that will be great fun for your children is to make letters with pipe cleaners, plasticine or even food, and practice the sounds with them.
In the end, everything counts and anything you can do at home will help your child develop their English language skills, so try at least one of our tips.
“Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will learn.”
The way we are taught determines how we retain and consolidate what we learn. With traditional methods, the learner is a passive subject in their own learning process. John Dewey, the prominent American educator, proposed that “if knowledge comes from the impressions that we have of ourselves, then we should be able to know what we know. natural objects do, it is impossible to obtain knowledge without the use of objects that impress the mind”. This approach has been the inspiration for the innovative English teaching method applied at FunTalk.
As children we learn by exploring our surroundings, and many of us continue to learn in this way. Babies do not learn from “tokens” or parental instructions, but from interacting with their environment and having enriching experiences. That is why it is so important in the teaching process to present the student, regardless of age, with situations in which they must take an active role in their learning. And by this we mean teaching through activities where the student must carry out actions or tasks with a certain purpose; in this way, learning is not a destination to be reached, but the road traveled.
This approach is called active learning and has proven to be a particularly effective teaching method, especially in language teaching. H. W. Reese (2011), expounds that “languages are best learned by their use rather than by formal rules”. We can know all the grammatical rules of a language but if we do not apply it to authentic situations, we will not be able to use it as a communicative form. In addition, by engaging in activities where they can create things, use their hands, solve problems, etc., students are much more motivated (Owens, Sadler, Barlow, & Smith-Walters, 2017), which in turn positively affects attention and memory consolidation (Cavenagh, 2016).
For these reasons we are convinced that at FunTalk we have designed an effective, motivating and fun method for all ages to learn English in a memorable and meaningful way. Our dynamic classes offer students communicative contexts in which to learn and practice relevant language. And what makes us unique, our signature workshops, offer students opportunities to learn in real-life situations, not just English, but tools that they can then apply in other contexts in their lives.
In short, our students are happy because they learn in a natural and meaningful way. In addition, our youngest students come with enthusiasm because they do not come to sit in front of a book but to talk, play, create, think, reflect and develop their skills; and parents appreciate that! We are grateful to be able to share our vision with so many families and to see the progress of all our students over time.
English classes, workshops and extracurricular activities for children and teenagers. The English academy of reference in Barcelona.
FunTalk: English classes, workshops and extracurricular activities for children and teenagers. We continue to reap success.
FunTalk is now in its second year, following in the wake of GetEnglish, and in this short time we have already established ourselves as one of the English centers of reference for many parents in Barcelona. Our secret: excellent quality teaching where the English classes are dynamic and adapted to the student, instead of the student having to adapt to the teaching method of the English center, as is usually the case. This is achieved through two parameters. The first: an innovative methodology where English classes are combined with workshops and activities in all kinds of disciplines that children and young people love: cooking, painting, handicrafts, photography, cinema or gardening, for example. The second: the experience, motivation and involvement of our Englishteachers who make the classes 100% flexible.
The results speak for themselves and throughout these two years we have proven and demonstrated that it is possible to learn English in an enjoyable way, maintaining the quality of the teaching and achieving effective results at the end of the course.
FunTalk is the pioneer language center in Barcelona in combining English courses with workshops and multi-thematic activities, whose implementation and success has helped to consolidate FunTalk’s motto “learning through fun”.
In fact, and we are not alone in saying this, we have managed to change the generalized concept of learning English into a fun, profitable and useful weekly event. What we are most proud of is that students of all ages look forward to their English day of the week.
Don’t wait until we run out of places: call us now and register your child for next year!
Why choose FunTalk’s English classes, workshops and extracurricular activities for your children in Barcelona?
Our English classes, workshops and extracurricular activities for children and teenagers have become popular relatively quickly mainly because our students enjoy the classes, workshops and extracurricular activities in English and because the results are tangible and progress can be seen (and heard) in a short period of time. But there are also other reasons why FunTalk has become the English academy par excellence in Barcelona: Variety: countless courses, activities and workshops in English for children and teenagers organized by FunTalk. Flexibility: your child can try different workshops and activities on individual days without having to sign up for a specific English course or workshop for a full academic year.
Dynamism: we organize workshops, events and sporadic activities in English throughout the course to complement the English classes and to cover the tastes of all audiences. Effectiveness: English classes and activities are organized in small groups where the teacher does not take the lead role during the classes, but the students do. Savings: registration is open all year round. In addition, registration is FREE. Motivation: the children are looking forward to the day they get to speak English at FunTalk, and that’s saying a lot! Our motto “learning English through fun” is applied in the classes and that is why children come to their classes motivated, receptive and eager to learn. Extra services: we pick up the children from the surrounding schools and bring them to their English classes and workshops at FunTalk (consult pick-up schools and conditions). Facilities: the classrooms are versatile spaces where everything has a place: technology, art, cinema and many other activities. Not to mention the FunTalk kitchen! Where thetastiest English courses in Barcelona are held. The list is longer, so we invite you to come to our English academy and discover first hand why we are on everyone’s lips in our neighborhood in the center of Barcelona.
The students enjoy their English extracurricular activities at FunTalk and the results show it.
Why are we so surewe know how to achieve good results with children in our English extracurricular activities?
Because we have been doing it for many years, because we have been foreign language learners ourselves as adults and because we like our work. FunTalk was started by Jodie and Josh (British she, American he) who landed in Barcelona a few years ago. While learning Spanish during their first years here, they realized that almost all language centers had a boring and monotonous teaching methodology that did not suit them. This frustrated search led to the creation of a project that now benefits many children and adults in the center of Barcelona. For all these reasons, we are well aware that language learning does not happen without motivation and interest. Our English classes combined with workshops and activities manage to awaken the curiosity and interest of the students in such a way that they forget that they come to FunTalk (mainly) to learn English.
Come and meet the most innovative English center in Barcelona, we are waiting for you at Aragò, 119 and on social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
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The first thing you should know is that Cambridge English qualifications (KET, PET, FCE; CAE, CPE) do not expire. However, they indicate the date on which they wereThe title of the title, if it is an old one, may suggest that you have lost some knowledge over time. This may have repercussions in some jobs or job interviews, where adn addition to asking for your title, they will want it to be as recent as possible. You should know that, in order to apply for many jobs, you will only need to prove your language skills by speaking the language.
Where there is motivation, there is interest and, therefore, better learning. Buy your child’s next video game in English and create the need for him to learn the words used and understand the language being spoken. For older teens, multiplayer video games are a great way for them to practice their English speaking skills with other gamers from around the world who do not speak their language.
When a person listens to a song over and over again, he or she begins to learn the words little by little, then the structures, and during this process is learning pronunciation, intonation, rhythm and pitch. In addition, listening to music and singing is fun and motivating for children, as well as a good way for them to gain confidence and practice their speaking skills. Cambridge suggests “for children aged 5 to 11, choosing songs with lots of rhyming words and rhythms that 
epetition is key to memory retention, so if every time your child wants to use his favorite toy truck, he sees “TRUCK” written on it, he’s sure to remember it and start using it in the future.
The brain does this by analyzing everything the child hears and transforming it into mouth movements that the child can imitate to produce a specific sound. How many times did you repeat “mommy” or “daddy” to your child before he or she was able to say it? They have to hear a word said on different occasions, by different people, before they try it. You can help your child learn English by exposing him to the sounds and rhythm of the English language so that it will be easier for him to repeat them in the future. If you think that changing the scenario is not enough, you can try more practical strategies. Help your child become aware of sounds by playing with refrigerator magnets: start with “cat” and then change one letter to make “mat” or “bat.” Children also love silly tongue twisters that unknowingly help them differentiate and practice similar sounds. Another alternative that will be great fun for your children is to make letters with pipe cleaners, plasticine or even food, and practice the sounds with them.
W. Reese (2011), expounds that “languages are best learned by their use rather than by formal rules”. We can know all the grammatical rules of a language but if we do not apply it to authentic situations, we will not be able to use it as a communicative form. In addition, by engaging in activities where they can create things, use their hands, solve problems, etc., students are much more motivated (Owens, Sadler, Barlow, & Smith-Walters, 2017), which in turn positively affects attention and memory consolidation (Cavenagh, 2016).
FunTalk is now in its second year, following in the wake of 
But there are also other reasons why FunTalk has become the English academy par excellence in Barcelona:
