The project of the Language Centre started a few years ago, under the direction of the Special Project’s Unit, to strengthen the human and technological resources to guarantee a formation of quality in foreign languages for the students and other members of the FUCS academic community.

With the creation of the Language Centre, in June 2009, all the activities for the formation in foreign languages were unified in a single organism which, up to a few years ago, had been developed separately by each of the faculties. A team of high quality teachers was established and the programs were reformed adjusting them to the standards set by the National Bilingual Program of the Ministry of Education, so that our students could be on equal terms with all the graduates from other universities of the country, As a result the English Formation Program of the university was initiated, in order to define a series of strategies to develop linguistic competence in English as a foreign language for the students of Medicine, Nursing, surgical Assistance, psychologist and administration. The program determines its objectives from the recognition of the need of English proficiency as a strategy to promote the competitiveness of undergraduates, and in its pursuit, established four levels of formation, at the end of which students will be ready to present the International Cambridge exam PET (Preliminary English Test) at an A2 level for Nursing, Surgical Assistants, psychologists and administrators and B1 for medicine students.

The Language Centre also offers levels of formation for teachers and administrators of the FUS. It also offers an elective PET for students. It also offers an elective in medical technical English, levels 5 and 6 for students who want to continue their process in learning English and TOEFL These electives will only open if they have a minimum number of students.

The Language Centre considering the university students should have the opportunity to acquire formation in a second language different to English , offers as an elective a first level in English, if there are enough students who want to continue their formation, a second, third and fourth level will be opened , with which students can reach level B1 in linguistic competence.

The language Centre offers the service of translation from both Spanish to English and English to Spanish to the academic community of the FUCS.

The Language Centre of the Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud shall direct its activities to position itself as an academic unit who is responsible that the relevant academic and social community can have access, through the acquisition of foreign languages, to a better understanding of the culture that these symbolize, and to the promotion of autonomy. All of this, with the anthropological purpose of recognizing in the graduates of its courses, a person more human and universal minded, who will know how to handle with competence the technological, scientific and social advances of the globalized and cross-cultural world, as is the one we are living today.

The Language Centre of Fundación Universitaria de Ciencias de la Salud, FUCS, is an academic unit, attached to the Academic Vice-rector’s office, whose main objective is to train students and the academic community in the development of linguistic competence in English as a foreign language.

Cambridge English Preliminary Exam is developed by the University of Cambridge ESOL It is aligned to the principles and approach of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Cambridge English Preliminary Test is a qualification of intermediate level that is officially recognized by administrative, industrial and service-based employers and educational institutions around the world. It demonstrates that a person can deal with everyday English at an intermediate level.

PET is a rigorous and thorough test of English at level B1. It covers all four language skills- reading, writing, listening and speaking. Preparing for the exam helps candidates develop the skill they need to use English to communicate effectively in a variety of practical contexts. At this level users can understand factual information and show awareness.

There are three papers: Reading and Writing, Listening and Speaking. Reading and Writing carries 50% 0f the total marks, the Listening paper and the Speaking each carry 25% of the total marks.

Reading and Writing: 1 hour 30 minutes Candidates need to be able to understand main points from signs, messages, newspapers and magazines and use vocabulary and structure correctly. 

Listening: 30 minutes Candidates need to show they can follow and understand a range of spoken materials including announcements and discussions about everyday life. 

Speaking: 10 - 12 minutes. Candidatestake the Speaking with another candidate or in a group of three, and are tested on their ability to take part in different types of interaction: with the examiner, with the other candidate and by themselves.

Marks and results: Cambridge English Preliminary gives detailed and meaningful results. All candidates receive a Statement of. 

Results: Candidates whose performance ranges Between CEFR levels A2 and B2 also receive a certificate.
 

The statement of Result outlines:

The candidates results: This result is based on a candidate’s total score on all three papers.

A graphical display of candidate’s performance in each paper (shown against the scale Exceptional – Good – Borderline – Weak).