News
ETS France Supports Sport dans la Ville to Promote the Employability of Young People from Disadvantaged Neighborhoods through TOEIC® Certification.
Young Talents, an international springboard for building your career
In today's ultra-competitive job market, mastery of the English language and obtaining recognized certifications such as the TOEIC® are essential assets for standing out from the crowd. Yet these opportunities often remain out of reach for young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods, who may be held back by financial obstacles, lack of information or insufficient English skills.
Since its inception, the Job dans la Ville program has supported young people in their career orientation and job placement, helping them to understand the expectations of the job market and to mobilize the resources they need to succeed. With the Young Talents program created in 2021, support goes even further, specifically targeting young people aspiring to international careers or highly skilled positions. An excellent jumping-off point, this program helps young people overcome the obstacles in the way of their professional ambitions.
To better identify these obstacles, a study financed by ETS France was carried out among Young Talents beneficiaries. In January 2022, l'Institut Koreis conducted an impact study with a representative sample of 543 participants in the Job dans la Ville program, and 245 Sport dans la Ville "alumni". This study highlighted three main obstacles: read the infographic.
Discover the key findings of this study
To address these issues, Young Talents offers 3 main areas of support.
A program in three key steps
The program is based on three pillars designed to enhance young people's linguistic and professional skills, preparing them for integration into the job market.
1. Strengthening English skills
Language skills are essential for international integration, which is why the Young Talents program offers the most motivated students a year's preparation for the TOEIC tests through its "TOEIC Class". As part of its sponsorship of the program, ETS France is offering free TOEIC® Listening and Reading tests and access to the Super Prepa application for the TOEIC Test.
2. Encouraging cultural immersion
If you want to progress internationally, you need to be open to different cultures. This is why the program offers 10-day stays abroad, where participants take part in volunteer missions. These experiences enable them to discover new cultures and develop a better sense of adaptability.
3. Facilitating access to international work experience
To put theory into practice, Young Talents also offers practical experience abroad:
o Internships, seasonal jobs, humanitarian missions or International Volunteering in a Company contracts (contrats V.I.E.).
o Connections with a network of partner companies to simplify access to international business opportunities.
Download the Young Talents program summary here.
English language skills: concrete impact on young people's career paths
The initial results of the program are already very positive. 65% of participants rate their level of English as good or excellent after the program, compared with only 26% at the start.
What's more, 78% say they have improved their understanding of international cultural and professional issues, and 60% have made key contacts that have helped them land a job, in France or abroad
Participant testimonials confirm this impact:
"I used to ask for the LinkedIn of people I met. I'm still in touch with two people I met two years ago in Boston", explains one student.
"Company visits helped me discover unexpected industries and professions. It saved me a lot of time," adds another participant.
Other data from the impact study confirm this initial positive assessment: read the infographic.
The positive impact of the Young Talents program on beneficiaries
Young Talents plays a key role in boosting participants' self-confidence: 80% of alumni say they feel better prepared to succeed in their professional lives.
One participant confirms: "Young Talents is an exceptional opportunity. It has enabled me to acquire skills, access international opportunities and believe in my abilities."
Celebrating the success of young people and the Young Talents program by thanking their sponsor ETS France
This positive transformation was celebrated at a graduation ceremony held on January 9, 2025 in Lyon. The event brought together students from the last three graduating classes, Elizabeth de Longeaux, sponsor of the class of 2024 and Vice President, Human Resources at Nemera, and Marie-Caroline Thomas, Key Account Manager for the Auvergne Rhône Alpes region, representing ETS France and the TOEIC program. The young people's testimonials underlined the many benefits of the program for their professional and personal careers.
During the evening, one student confirmed that the Young Talents program had helped him considerably improve his English:
I've been part of the Young Talents program for 5 years. I needed my TOEIC to validate my master's degree in business school. When I started, my score was 400 points. Thanks to my perseverance and Young Talents' support, I earned a score of 930 points last month.
A partnership to rebalance opportunities and offer a promising future
By giving young people the tools they need to overcome social and geographical barriers, Young Talents redistributes opportunities and makes their professional ambitions a reality. Thanks to the commitment of Sport dans la Ville and ETS France, which has proudly supported the association for 3 years by offering free TOEIC tests and preparation tools, the program enables everyone to find their place, in France and internationally.