So I sat down at a tea stand in Amritsar to drink tea and read The New Yorker (as one does). I looked up and across the street spotted a big ol’ “go to Canada” consultancy. What are the odds? Pretty good, actually, as there are whole city blocks filled with almost nothing but such offices (more on that later).
There is more. When I turned the page in my magazine I found a long profile of Luis von Ahn, which included quick references to both the TOEFL and DET tests. What are the odds of both of these things happening? I do not know.
I mention these things for a reason. Starting around 2018 I was pretty burned out on English testing. It was boring and the monopolies seemed like they would never go away. But these days there is a lot to get excited about. Tests get referenced in the magazine I read to make myself look smart, but that’s not all. TOEFL is coming to Broadway. There are a bunch of small and medium-sized tests to explore and learn about. Very important English broadsheets are digging into the HOELT. Legacy testing firms are being forced to change, and to do better.
I’m having a good time. Testing is fun again.
