‘A unique opportunity in the curriculum for students to have genuine agency over their choices and outcome’: A study of the impact on learners of employability-focused, externally assessed Level 1 and Level 2 speaking and listening qualifications

LAUREN KEARNEY AND ANTHEA WILSON, ENGLISH SPEAKING BOARD (INTERNATIONAL) LTD, UK Note: English Speaking Board (International) Ltd offers chargeable services, including the qualifications discussed in this article. Introduction English Speaking Board (International) Ltd (ESB) is an Ofqual-regulated awarding organisation offering accredited qualifications in speaking and listening. Two qualifications – the ESB Level 1 Award in Speech (Grade 2) and the ESB Level 2 Certificate in Speech (Grade 4) – are ‘pathways’ qualifications, with the option of a ‘speech for employability’ pathway. We wanted to investigate the impact on learners of undertaking an ESB International qualification as one way of developing oracy, specifically in the context of post-lockdown education, focusing on these Level 1 and Level 2 employability pathways.  ESB International assessments take place in groups of six learners, and each learner is assessed individually while interacting with the group,