For Students

The abbreviation CEFR used in the course descriptions refers to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which describes A1 - C2 language levels.

CEFR assessment grid (pdf)

Quick OJZ Placement Test

The test is based on grammar and vocabulary. Download it, do it, correct it using the key and you can find out your approximate level of English in the table below. The test won't take you more than 40 minutes.

• Test
• Key
  

Evaluation of the test

This evaluation only serves as a basic reference. There are more detailed and more accurate placement tests that test language skills available on various webpages (e.g. Dialang, TOEIC placement test).

TOEIC Listening Test

A short TOEIC Listening-skills test is available here.

• 25 questions
• 15 minutes
• Beginner to Advanced (A1 to C1 on the CEFR)
• Tests the candidate's listening skills
• Instant results
• Use your existing ETS account or register

More information about the TOEIC and TOEFL tests: ETS website
and more information on the Language Department website.

LanguageCert Placement Test

Quick online placement test – 25 multiple-choice questions. The test is available on the LanguageCert webpage here.

“Kindness is like sunshine; it brightens everyone’s day.”

Language Exploration:

You can find the answers and a possible translation of the quote below.

1. What does the word "sunshine" mean in this sentence?
2. The word "brighten" is one of the verbs whose ending –en often relates to a process of becoming or causing to become something. (e.g., "widen" means "to make wider", "harden" means "to become hard"), so to brighten = to make something happier, lighter, or more cheerful.
   Transform the adjectives below to verbs using the same ending and use them correctly in the sentences below, which are related to Christmas. (A–Z)
   dark – flat – hard – moist – sharpen – shorten – tight – wide
   a) It looks like the cold weather --- the snow into ice by the midnight mass.
   b) We’ll need --- the door to get the giant Christmas tree inside.
   c) We have had --- the list of gifts to fit our holiday budget.
   d) --- the gingerbread dough with a rolling pin before cutting out the shapes.
   e) He used a knife --- the end of the wooden stick for the star on top of the tree.
   f) The room --- with the falling snow outside, and the candles on the Christmas tree twinkled like stars.
   g) Because of our curious puppy, we had to ---the ribbons on the presents to keep them secure.
   e) Remember --- the Christmas cake with some syrup before serving.
3. What is the grammatical function of "like" in this sentence? Express the idea with different words.
4. What is the function of the semicolon in this sentence?
5. How would you paraphrase the sentence? (Using this technique can help you gradually expand your vocabulary.)

Note: Positive, motivational quotes in English for every day are offered by many applications and groups on social networks, such as Action for Happiness or Brainy Quote.
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Answers to the tasks above:

1. Here, "sunshine" is used metaphorically to represent something warm, positive, and uplifting.
2. a) will harden b) to widen c) to shorten d) Flatten e) to sharpen f) darkened g) tighten e) to moisten
3. "Like" is a preposition, meaning "similar to."
4. The semicolon separates two closely related independent clauses.
5. A possible simple paraphrase might be the following, for example: You make everybody's life more enjoyable by being kind.
   Here are several variants:
   * Kindness works like sunlight, bringing warmth and joy to everyone it touches.
   * Acts of kindness illuminate life, much like the sun lights up the sky.
   * Being kind is as uplifting as a sunny day, spreading cheer all around.
   * A little kindness can brighten someone’s day the way sunshine chases away clouds.
   * Kindness has the power to bring light to dark moments, just like sunshine.
   * Showing kindness is as refreshing as the sun breaking through after a storm.
   Reference: *O

Possible translation to support your learning of Czech: Laskavost je jako sluneční svit; všem rozzáří den.

References

This educational section may include text which is adapted from AI-generated responses. In the text, AI-generated content is marked with an asterisk and the initial as described below:

• *O refers to: OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (Version 4) [Large language model]. Retrieved from https://www.openai.com/chatgpt
• *C refers to: Copilot. (2024, October 28). Personal communication.

NB: Each reference format was recommended by the respective AI software at the time of communication.