Ms. Devon here. I admit that I have always loved tests and so when I became a teacher I also expected my students to strive for those short-term goals of passing a test as well. I still think that tests can help us build our foundation in English and gives us a good starting point. Although I think reading from the beginning stages can help us really “acquire” the language rather than “learn” the language, I also know that people sometimes need that structure. However, I have also experienced first-hand what only studying for tests can do. It confuses you! It frustrates you! It makes you not what to speak.
At what point do these tests fail us and start to become just a standardized status marker? I believe it’s after Eiken 3. Does this mean you shouldn’t take Eiken Pre-2? Absolutely not but the question becomes, when do I take the Eiken Pre-2 test? I work with a lot of children who went to international preschools and many of them can reach this level at quite a young age. However, despite their ability to speak well they often haven’t grasped basic grammar usage, and of course, much of the vocabulary in the Pre-2 test they haven’t even learned in Japanese! This is the time I recommend stopping the tests and reading, reading, reading. Your child will increase their vocabulary and will often come across more advanced grammar without knowing it. They will be able to give themselves time to really let the material they studied from Eiken 5 ~ Eiken 3 sink in and become usable communicative English.
So what about high school entrance tests and college entrance tests? This is the decision that has to be made within your family. What are your long-term English goals for your child? Do you want your child to get the highest level of test score to get into a better school? If yes, that’s fine but it also risks putting too much input into their brains too fast. Do you want your child to speak English and really let the material they are learning sink in and become English they can use when communicating with others? If yes, great! I agree! But it may take a bit more time to reach the test scores that some schools may be looking for on their applications.
This is the endless struggle of finding the right balance for each student in order to achieve the outcome you are hoping for, it’s something that should be on the minds of students, families, teachers, and schools.
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