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Introduction To Language Testing

This document discusses current issues with language testing and proposes improvements. It notes that current tests focus mostly on written grammar, vocabulary and reading skills, with less emphasis on communication. This leads students to learn just for the tests rather than developing oral skills. The document recommends that tests assess all four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing to better reflect real-life language use and communication abilities. Areas like grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation should also be tested, but integrated within communicative tasks. Sample test questions are provided to illustrate testing various skills and language areas.

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3K views

Introduction To Language Testing

This document discusses current issues with language testing and proposes improvements. It notes that current tests focus mostly on written grammar, vocabulary and reading skills, with less emphasis on communication. This leads students to learn just for the tests rather than developing oral skills. The document recommends that tests assess all four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing to better reflect real-life language use and communication abilities. Areas like grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation should also be tested, but integrated within communicative tasks. Sample test questions are provided to illustrate testing various skills and language areas.

Uploaded by

hoangyensaigonlog
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Language Testing

Current situations of language testing


In groups of 4 or 5, discuss the current situations of language testing at schools or language centers.

Current situations of language testing


  

 

Multiple choice Using mostly written forms Testing the vocabulary, grammar structures, reading, writing Less focus on communicative skills Oral skills are not assessed

Impacts of current ways of language tests




Students learn to the tests  reluctant to oral skills of the language Not being able to use the language well especially in communication Language learning becomes tiring and boring since students have to learn lots of vocabulary and grammar structures without knowing how to apply them in real situations. Tests used can not achieve their main objectives.

WHY TEST?
What are the purposes of language tests? 1. To measure students performance - individual performance (classroom tests) - for purposes of comparison or selection (external examination) 2. To enable teachers to increase their own effectiveness by making adjustment in their teaching 3. To identify the precise areas of difficulty encountered by the class or by individual students 4. To provide students with an opportunity to show their ability to perform certain tasks in the language 5. To enable students to learn from their weaknesses

What should be tested?


 

Testing the language skills Testing the language areas

Testing the language skills


Four major skills in communication through language are listening, speaking, reading and writing.  These skills should be carefully integrated and to use for real life communication. There would be no rigid distinction drawn between the four different skills Tests should be able to reflect students general fluency and ability to use the language.


Testing the language skills


To give some indication of the students scholastic ability in some of the language skills needed as a student, tests of each language skill can be designed

Testing the language skills




Listening comprehension (short dialogues, talks, lectures ) Speaking ability ( interview, picture description, role play, problem solving task) Reading comprehension (questions and answers, true/ false, multiple choice, matching, etc.) Writing ability (letters, reports, summary, instruction, accounts of past events, etc.)

Testing the language areas


 

Grammar and usage Vocabulary (word meaning, word formation, collocations) Phonology (phonemes, stress, intonation)

Testing Grammar and usage

To measure students ability to recognize appropriate grammatical forms and to manipulate the structures

Example
Choose A, B, C, or D to complete the blanks in the following:
Although it (1) . Quite warm now, (2) will change later today. By tomorrow morning, it (3) .. Much colder and there may even be a little snow. (1) A. seem B. will seem C. seemed D. had seemed (2) A. Weather B. The weather C. a weather D. some weather (3) A. is B. will go to be C. is going to be D. would be

Example
Complete the following dialogue: A: does Victor Lee ? B: I think his flat is close to Tan Son Nhat Airport

PRACTICE
Design/Select an English test Present the purpose of the test

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