Holland College recently obtained certification to become an online site for the Test of English Fluency, an English language test used by new Canadians, immigrant students and international students to demonstrate the level of their language skills in order to apply for entrance into a post-secondary institution.

The Test of English Fluency, better known as TOEFL, is administered by ETS, an American based standardized testing institution. TOEFL is the most recognized test worldwide for the assessment of a person’s ability to read, write, speak and understand English, and has been taken by more than 18,000 people worldwide. The test is accepted by 6,000 colleges and universities across the world. For most Canadian, U.S., and British colleges and universities, TOEFL is the only official proof of English language ability. Although delivered online, the students give voice as well as written responses.

Dr. Audrey Penner, Director of Adult Education, Learner Supports and Applied Research, said that the ability to take the test over the Internet at Holland College’s Charlottetown centre will be of great benefit to the newest international members of our community.

“This provides a significant opportunity for language students, international students and the immigrant population in the PEI school system. The registration system is very user friendly and we hope to provide service for a large portion of our immigrant population.” she noted.

Pierce Butler, the college’s certified TOEFL administrator agreed.

“As an academic institution that offers a wide variety of programs and services, this latest offering by Holland College is of great importance to foreign and immigrant students, not only in P.E.I., but throughout the Maritimes. With state-of-the-art computers in a bright and spacious room, our lab offers the most ideal conditions in which to write this test,” he said.