British Council IELTS Launches the 1001 Ways Mobile Application that Celebrates the Diversity of the English Language

The British Council today announced the launch of its 1001 Ways mobile app for Android devices.With short videos and a unique message—there are 1,001 ways to speak English—this fun and educational application gives users the chance to test their knowledge of international accents by guessing the accents of inhabitants of different regions of the world. Users can also record and share their own accents to be part of the quiz.

“English is spoken in so many ways around the world,” noted Stephen Carey, British Council IELTS Global Marketing Manager, speaking in Chennai on the launch. “We know that many English language learners are challenged by the sheer variety of accents out there. Through this app, we wanted to embrace this diversity in a fun, accessible way.”

The application is part of British Council IELTS’s aim to celebrate the differences in accents that can often confuse English language test candidates. It wants to show them as an asset to the English language and tell the world that command of English is the gateway to a world of opportunities.

This diversity is reflected in the IELTS test, which show cases a variety of accents in the Listening section while also taking into account the range of candidates’ own accents in the Speaking section of the exam.        

The 1001 Ways application is also part of a global multi-channel campaign launched in April 2014 and rolled out in over 25 countries on five continents. This campaign emphasizes the universality of English as the language of communication and the diversity of its spoken expression.

1001 Ways is available now to download on the App Store and Google Play.

www.britishcouncil.in/ielts

About the British Council:

Founded in 1934, the British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. Our 7,000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. For details of our work in India, please visit www.britishcouncil.in.

About IELTS (the International English Language Testing System):

With over 2.2 million tests taken each year, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is the world’s most popular English test. Recognized by over 9,000 educational, employment and immigration organizations, IELTS is the only test accepted for immigration purposes in countries that require one. Designed by internationally renowned experts in English-language assessment, IELTS gauges English skills in the most reliable and consistent way possible.

Candidates are tested in listening, reading, writing and speaking. All tests are scored on a banded system from 1 (the lowest) through to 9 (the highest possible band score).

IELTS offers a choice of two versions, to serve both academic and non-academic purposes. IELTS Academic measures English language proficiency needed for an academic, higher learning environment. The tasks and texts are accessible to all test-takers, irrespective of their subject focus. IELTS General Training measures English language proficiency in a practical, everyday context. The tasks and texts reflect both workplace and social situations

For more information, press only:

Rahul Joshi
Edelman for British Council
+91 9619583385
rahul.joshi@edelman.com