LLCU 424 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: American Council On The Teaching Of Foreign Languages, Test Of English As A Foreign Language, Standardized Test
2 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
When you propose to test language proficiency, this presupposes that you have a comprehensive definition of the specific competencies that comprise overall language ability. The toefl test offers one operationally defined view of language proficiency. Swain (1990) offers a multidimensional view referring to grammar, discourse, and sociolinguistic competence as essential components of proficiency. Actfl takes a holistic view of proficiency in describing four levels: superior, advanced, intermediate, and novice. Within each level descriptions of listening, speaking, reading, and writing are provided as guidelines for assessment. Bachman advocates a communicative definition of ability that recognizes a dynamic interaction between the situation, the language user, and the discourse, in which communication is something more than the simple transfer of information (negotiation of meaning) In summary, creating a standardized test is a major undertaking involving: Soundly constructed standards, free of bias, that form its foundation. A sophisticated process of construct validation coupled with considerations of practicality.
