Our intern Bas has the task to collect fun and special stories from Anglia participants. Several students responded to his call on social media. Today the report of his interview with Kevin (17) from Harderwijk.

Kevin has been interested in using the English Language since he was young; playing all kinds of video games, speaking with English family.

At his secondary school RSG N.O.-Veluwe, he participated in the Anglia Examinations at Proficiency (C1) level. The regular lessons were not interesting according to him, ''it was far too easy. It looked like you were in primary school''. At the beginning of the year according to Kevin it was mentioned that Anglia was offered, in the fourth grade Kevin asked again if he could participate.

Once a week on Wednesday after school, together with the other students who took part in the Anglia Exams, exercises were done using the STEP TO book Advanced (B2).

I didn't find it very difficult. At the moment I am also looking to do the Anglia Exams at Masters (C2)''. Kevin made the AcCEPT writing part during the exam (by mistake), but this went well for him. He passed the Anglia exam with a Merit! I can never stick to a writing assignment, I always talk around it. That's actually the case with every subject''.

Kevin also took part in the Anglia Speaking Tests. Kevin even helped the Anglia Coordinator with the Anglia Speaking Assessor Training. In this training the person has to make a recording of a Speaking Test, Kevin was kind enough to help her as a ''candidate''. After this he was given a suggestion as to what level of English speaking skills he was at and was asked to participate in an official Speaking Test.  According to Kevin the Speaking Test was a conversation or what you do in daily life, the conversation was about what you want and how you want to achieve this. Kevin passed the test with 90%!

Unfortunately because of Covid there was no big celebration before the certificates were handed out. Through a created Anglia WhatsApp group with the participants, contact was kept about the developments regarding the Anglia Exams.  Through the WhatsApp group it was agreed to collect the certificates with the students who had taken part in the exams, under the impression of a celebration.

Kevin certainly sees the English language in his future; ''I want to do something with interpreting, from English to Dutch or Dutch to English, something in that direction''. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, I also wanted to do something with telephones, but the idea of an interpreter hadn't crossed my mind at the time.

Kevin has another tip for future exam candidates: ''Always pay attention, even if you think you are very good in English''.

- Interview by Bas, intern -

About two weeks ago, Anglia Representatives from all around the world gathered at Chichester College, the heart of Anglia in Chichester, England. Many thanks to the new Anglia Global Director, Sarah Watson, and all Anglia HQ colleagues for having us, and for taking such good care of us! We hope you all enjoyed our PIE!

1. We have been working with Ellis Adriaensen for many years. Students at her school, KSE in Etten-Leur, The Netherlands, know her as Mrs Anglia. Enthusiastic, dedicated and always willing to help. In 2019, about 140 of her students took part in Anglia exams! In addition, Ellis has been teaching for us in numerous projects.

2. After successfully organising two English Summer Schools in Ukraine in 2018, our local representative Lidia Fedinets was determined to beat that number in 2019. In addition, first Ukrainian schools took part in Anglia Examinations in June.

3. Anglia Coordinator Petra Baaten (Jan Tinbergen College in Roosendaal) has been encouraging and guiding over 1,500 students to join Anglia, and to invest in learning English. In April, a new group of 150 students took part in Anglia exams.

4. The EFKF and Associacao Crescer Sempre in Sao Paulo, Brazil have been partners since 2014. Together they have given high school pupils opportunity to study English. Our April PIE was for local teacher Luciana Sousa Silva.

5. Piles of exam papers are very impressive and seem endless.Luckily, there is always a group of Peak Team Members, helping to perzonalize all the exam papers and make sure they are ready to be shipped to the participating schools. Peak Team Member Annette has been a valued colleague for many many years.

6. Hundreds of exam sessions in dozens of countries worldwide. Anglia Operations Manager Robert Piernikarski and his team in Chichester play a crucial role in the smooth processing of exam papers.

7. After years of service, Sebastiaan Posma (Business Development Manager at Anglia HQ in Chichester, England) has decided to leave the Anglia office. Luckily he will stay involved in Anglia, as he will join the AIM Awards Team.

8. Joep and Carli's EFKF adventure in Ghana has started. They will be there for three months to teach English and promote hygiene to children.

9. Summer Schools, assessments or training. Marian Venderbos has been involved in a variety of Anglia activities. As one of our most experienced Speaking Test Assessors she has guided thousands of Speaking Test participants. Because of this experience, Marian was asked give the Anglia Speaking Test Assessor Training. She is currently training a group of about 25 enthusiastic teachers.

Marian has been involved in a wide variery of Anglia activities for many, many years. As one of our most experienced Anglia Speaking Test Assessors she has guided hundreds, if not thousands of Anglia Speaking Test participants, mostly in the south of The Netherlands.

Because of this experience, Marian was asked give the Anglia Speaking Test Assessor Training as well. She is currently training a group of about 25 enthusiastic teachers.

A passion for Anglia seems te be running in the family, because together with her husband (the Anglia Coordinator at SG Sophianum in Gulpen) she has been a (head) teacher in several of our English Summer Schools.

Joep and Carli's adventure in Ghana has started. They will be there for three months to teach English and promote hygiene to children. The EFKF has provided materials to help them with this, and we will be following and posting their journey via social media.

Watch their full interview below for more details!

Just before they left we met with Joep and Carli to give materials, have some pie, and bid them goodbye as they embark on their three month adventure in Ghana. This material will help them teach around 100 children!

AIM Awards is an Ofqual approved National Awarding Organisation. Anglia Examinations and AIM Awards have partnered to develop a suite of ESOL International Qualifications, for the Anglia top four accredited levels.

We would like to thanks Sebastiaan for his hard work and dedication!

"Piles and piles of exam papers are very impressive and seem endless". This is how our Anglia Exams Administrator Yvonne Gommers described the administration the Anglia exams in our Anglia20 Anniversary Magazine.

Luckily, there is always a group of Peak Team Members, helping to perzonalize all the exam papers and make sure they are ready to be shipped to the participating schools. Peak Team Member Annette has been a valued colleague for many many years. We therefore surprised her with a well deserved cake. Many thanks Annette!

1.       Who are you, what is your position, school etc?
I am Luciana, I've been teaching English for almost 20 years, 6 of them at Crescer Sempre, where I've been teaching since 2012 for English Projects - for adults and teenagers from High School. In 2017 I launched my online school which aims to give online private classes for students in Brazil and Brazilian students who live abroad as well. 

2.       How does the English For Kids Foundation help you?
We see English for Kids Foundation as an extraordinary opportunity to make the kids take part in international communication and also get an International English Certificate, which is essencial for them in a moment they dedicate their time and effort to get into college and the first job as well.

3.       How do the students react, what is in it for them?
At first they get really enthusiastic when they come to English classes; they see it as an unique experience to learn and practice. Besides most of them begin as elementary level, we work with some grammar basis and vocabulary which contributes to a better English communication. 

4.        How important is international communication for kids in Brazil?
Most schools in Brazil don't have excellence in English teaching, specially the ones located in poor communities as Paraisópolis. So, when there's a school which provides English teaching, based in International communication, the guys 'desperately' want to participate. Although they come from a very humble home, they are ambitious when it comes to their future - most of them would like to travel abroad someday and speak English worldwide.

5.       What do you expect from Building Bridges?
Building Bridges will certainty come to support them on their communication development. It's a chance to put into practice everything they've learned during the classes and above all meet other students from different countries and cultures. It will be a rich experience!