Devon County Council partners with Duolingo to trial English Proficiency Test for refugees

Devon County Council has launched a new initiative in partnership with the renowned language learning platform, Duolingo, to provide English language proficiency tests for refugees and asylum seekers in Devon. This trial aims to overcome the barriers often faced by these individuals in accessing necessary language certification for higher education or employment.

Refugees and asylum seekers frequently encounter challenges in taking English proficiency tests due to high costs, inconvenient testing locations, and other personal commitments. To address these issues, the South West Council's ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) coordinator connected Devon County Council with Duolingo. The app provider was seeking local authorities to pilot its online language proficiency programme with non-native English speakers.

Duolingo has generously provided hundreds of free tests for the council to trial, in return for feedback from test participants, ESOL providers, and educators. The trial commenced this month, enabling individuals to take the tests online at their convenience, from any location.

Duolingo's proficiency test certificate, awarded to those who pass, is recognised by several universities and aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1-C2 levels). Five community partners in Devon are facilitating access to these tests:

• St Sidwell’s Community Centre

• Refugee Support Devon

• Imagine Torbay Multicultural Group

• Sunrise Diversity

• Teignbridge CVS

Councillor Roger Croad, Cabinet Member for Communities, expressed his support for the initiative: “We are aware of the difficulties that many asylum seekers and refugees face in taking English language proficiency tests due to cost and location barriers. These tests are crucial for employment and further education opportunities. We were excited about this trial with Duolingo to see its potential benefits for people in Devon.”

Duolingo's UK Country Director, Michael Lynas, commented on the company's mission: “Duolingo believes in using cutting-edge technology to remove barriers to education and assessment. By helping migrants certify their English language skills, we aim to open up economic opportunities and enhance community integration. We look forward to working with Devon County Council and hope this pilot demonstrates the positive impact of the Duolingo English Test.”

If successful, Duolingo plans to explore further opportunities to offer this testing on a broader scale, with the ultimate goal of improving access to English proficiency assessments and expanding economic and educational opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.