<%@LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> THE Language Key Online English Learning
 
 

Workplace English Campaign (WEC)

What is the Worplace English Campaign?

The Workplace English Campaign is an initiative of the Education & Manpower Board, in response to the Chief Executive’s 1999 Policy Address. It features a number of activities aimed at promoting higher standards of English use by staff in Hong Kong companies. These include newspaper and television publicity, trade seminars and a Business & Schools Partnership Programme. However, at the centre of the campaign is an incentive scheme which makes available HK$50m to subsidise workplace English language training and course development. This is linked to a benchmarking exercise which identifies target levels of language proficiency for certain key groups of employees.

Benchmarking for Individuals and Groups of Company Staff

A large-scale testing project was carried out, involving over 2,000 people and using four internationally-recognised English proficiency tests. Using the results of these assessments, the WEC has designed a scale of levels for use by Hong Kong employers, and established a series of benchmarks for key groups of staff. The levels and benchmarks are indicated in the diagram below.

Further details of these benchmarks are available in the WEC’s own website….


Financial Incentives for Individuals and Companies using the Workplace English Campaign

The incentive scheme offers two kinds of subsidy:

  • Up to 50% of course fees for individuals or groups who receive training and then achieve the benchmark relevant to their job nature. The limit of expenditure per person is HK$1,500.

  • Up to 50% of the development costs of new in-company training programmes which will also enable staff to achieve the required benchmark


How Can The Language Key Help You?

The Language Key offers the following services in connection with the WEC incentive scheme:

  • Free pre-course placement service

    Once you have decided to arrange training for your staff, The Language Key will assess the potential participants free of charge using its own placement test. This will establish what level of course is suitable for the staff concerned.

  • BULATS Test - the WEC-recognised test

    The Cambridge Business Language Testing Service (BULATS). This offers a standard test covering listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary, with optional extra tests in writing and speaking. All candidates take the same test and receive a numerical score, but the outcomes are also expressed in terms of five levels ranging from elementary to upper intermediate.
    Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)
    benchmarked against WEC scale
    business focus
    Cambridge guarantee of quality
    test can be taken at any time
    results produced within a week
    results valid for two years
    core test available plus options
    US$46 for core test
    US$46 for writing test
    US$46 for speaking test
    discounts for bulk training
  • In-Company Courses

    If you have groups of staff who are at the same language level The Language Key will organise courses targeting their particular needs. The length of the courses will vary depending on the starting point of the participants. You may wish them to take the BULATS Test, depending on the factors which are summarised above. WEC-related company courses can attract a discounted hourly training fee.

 
Workplace English Training E-Package | Corporate Training Services | Contacts