A BRIEF HISTORY

1972 - 1978
The academic community of the University of Geneva, having foreseen the growing need for modernized training and testing systems in the field of languages, gave rise in 1972 to the non-profit association Le Centre Européen pour l’Evaluation Linguistique (CEEL), the European Centre for Language Testing (ECLT). CEEL was accommodated by the State of Geneva in the Palais Wilson, the prestigious one-time seat of the League of Nations. The initial composition of CEEL’s Board was as follows:

• President: Charles Rouiller, Rector of the University of Geneva
• Vice-President: Joseph Jauch, Director of the School of Theoretical Physics of the University of Geneva
• Director: Nicholas Johnson-Ferguson, Linguist Consultant
• Secretary: John Siotis, Professor at the Graduate Institute for International Studies of the University of Geneva

From the outset of its incorporation, CEEL assumed a strong socially responsible approach manifested in its culture, the projects it undertakes and the benefits of its programmes to local communities and society in general. During the initial period of its operation, CEEL focused on the delivery of language courses that aimed at the training and certification of socially vulnerable groups, including long-term unemployed, political refugees, rehabilitated drug addicts and ex prison detainees. Ventures of this nature provided the foundation for on-going research and assessment, and triggered the accomplishment of major projects that have attracted extensive scientific attention:

• Computerized evaluation of spoken language, International Review of Applied Linguistics XV1/4, 1978. A second article was later published in Practice and Problems in Language Testing, Verlag Peter D. Lang, Frankfurt, 1979
• A count of phono-graphemic correspondences in British English Vowels, International Review of Applied Linguistics X 1/2 1973
• Research into eye movements in reading, ELT Journal XXV11, No 1 1973
• Self-assessment of Listening Ability, International Review of Applied Linguistics, XVB1/2, 1978

A number of international assignments were implemented on behalf of prominent organizations and institutions, including the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, the World Health Organization, the Supreme Headquarters of Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), the UNICEF in Peru, the Danish Refugee Council, the CERN Geneva, the High Commission for Refugees, the International Red Cross, GAIDAI the University of Modern Languages in Osaka, the Universities of Durango Mexico, Colorado, Guadalajara Mexico, Beijing, Victoria Canada, Regina Canada, UCLA, the International Buddhist University Osaka and others. Publications during this period included:

• Basic phonetic concepts, a programmed introduction, CEEL Geneva, 1975
• Phonetic correction, CEEL Geneva, 1975
• Teaching English as a foreign language, theory and practice, Foma Lausanne, 1973
• Teacher made language tests, Foma Lausanne 1973
• Language learning by objectives, Evans Brothers, London 1978
• The Gordian Knot, Attitudes to language teaching, CEEL Geneva, 1978

IBM, Hewlett Packard, Caterpillar Overseas, Crédit Suisse, Chase Manhattan, Olivetti, Philip Morris, are a few examples of multinationals and large corporations for which CEEL organized training in language and inter-personal skills. Course materials included:

• Talking Business, Macmillan, London
• English by Objectives, Evans Brothers, London
• English Telephone Conversations, Nelson, London
• English for Bank Cashiers, Evans Brothers, London
• English for International Banking, Evans Brothers, London
• English for Shop Assistants, Evans Brothers, London

1978 - 1990
In the late 1970s, the institute proceeded to the administrative separation from the university, in order to further focus on language testing and certification, always retaining a close academic link with the university, as resulted in the management synthesis:

• President: Jean Siotis, Professor at the Graduate Institute for International Studies of the University of Geneva
• Vice-President: Anne-Marie Meid, Professor at the Interpreters School of the University of Geneva
• Secretary: Nicholas Johnson-Ferguson, Director of the Institute

CEEL’s network of experts expanded to a number of countries, including Mexico, Japan, France, Canada, Greece, Libya and Italy, thus providing maximum input from learners and an international dimension that is reflected in the content and structure of the disseminated language programmes. Emphasis was given to factors that influence learning:

• The effect of perceived value on success
• The relationship between participation and progress
• The relationship between comprehension and production of a foreign language, published in International Review of Applied Linguistics
• The influence of music on stress and learning potential
• Instructor interference
• Test NSD/74 to evaluate learner attitude to language learning
• Self-directed learning

Additionally, work was carried out in Japanese to examine the relationship between graphemes and syllables in Hiragana and Katakana.

One of the results of these projects was the creation of five language courses, broadcast daily for two years over Swiss National Radio. The German course was subsequently adopted by the Department of Education for the Italian speaking part of Switzerland:

• Threshold - English
• Umbral - Spanish
• Dunque - Italian
• Grüezi - Swiss German
• Deutsch durch Lernziele - German

1990 - 2000
From 1988 onwards, the Presidency of CEEL was assumed by Nicholas Johnson-Ferguson and the headquarters of the Institute were relocated to a 13th century château on the Loire, France, which was especially renovated for the purpose of accommodating the development plans of the organization. The refurbishment was partly funded by the European Community. Further training and testing materials were produced to cover the increasing language communication needs of industry and academia. Projects included:

• Premiers Contacts - A basic language course for in-flight personnel from Air Canada
• Relationship between the FSI and OLAF - Research for Canadian National Railroad
• E-mail and technical report writing - Training materials for Caterpillar Overseas
• Improve your reading ability and much more - Training materials for Nestlé
• English for the eyewear industry - Training materials in negotiating contracts, financed by the Leonardo grant of EEC
• First Contacts - A basic English course prepared for the French Chambers of Commerce
• Phone contacts - Prepared for the French chambers of commerce
• International contacts - Training materials financed by the Leonardo grant of EEC
• Problem solving and decision taking - Training materials for Petroconsultants
• A dictionary of eyewear terms - English/French/English
• SAPL, Self-Access Pair Learning - Written for the International Buddhist University, Osaka
• Test N96 - Evaluation of comprehension for telebankers prepared for the Crédit Suisse
• Test JFTA - A type analysis profile (in English, Spanish and French) prepared for a number of multinational organizations
• Dynamic business presentations - Training materials for Caterpillar Overseas.
• The New World – Training materials of English for children from the age of 8

2000 - Today
The outset of the 21st century highlighted the need for mutual recognition of language qualifications that would facilitate educational and occupational mobility. The Common European Framework was published and CEEL, in absolute alignment with industry trends, restructured its assessment schemes into a comprehensive battery of tests in English, French, German and Italian, called Value Based Language Testing (VBLT). The VBLT present a number of features and advantages, which constructively challenge traditional methods of language certification:

• The test is a measure of competence and not a pass-fail statement
• Each of the four main skills is evaluated and certified separately
• The tests are a combination of power and speed tests
• Correction is totally objective and independent of the personal opinion of the examiner
• The speaking ability is tested through the processor “OLAF”, a patent developed for the Canadian Public Service Commission and used extensively worldwide
• Listening comprehension uses a test of channel capacity

Today CEEL cooperates with more than 50 experts around the world that continuously revise and update VBLT, to meet up with current developments and evolving methods in language certification. VBLT have gained the recognition of governments, academic communities, the corporate sector and prominent market representatives.