Language teachingLesson 1 of 4 in the course Language assessment

Language Assessment: Measures, Professional Practice, and Contexts

5 flashcards · 4 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Language assessment examines how people’s ability to understand and use languages can be evaluated. It is part of applied linguistics and serves educational, professional, and civic purposes.

Language assessment, also called language testing, is the systematic evaluation of language ability. It may be used to assess a first, second, or additional language in schools, colleges, and universities; in workplaces; or in immigration, citizenship, and asylum settings.

All flashcards

What is language assessment?
Language assessment, or language testing, is the systematic evaluation of language ability for purposes such as education, work, or civic processes.
How do language knowledge and proficiency differ?
Knowledge is understanding how a language works, such as its grammar or vocabulary; proficiency is the ability to use it effectively in real situations.
Which skills may a language assessment measure?
Listening, speaking, reading, and writing, individually or in integrated combinations.
What was the Lado Test of Aural Comprehension?
The first test launched by the University of Michigan’s English Language Institute, in 1946, focused on understanding spoken language.
What was TOEFL originally designed to assess?
Launched in 1961, TOEFL was designed to assess the English ability of students applying to colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Quiz questions

  1. In language assessment, what does validity concern?Answer: Whether evidence supports the intended interpretation and use of scores
  2. Which assessment is oriented toward English communication in the global workplace?Answer: TOEIC
  3. Which aviation language proficiency levels are identified as acceptable for operational use?Answer: Levels 4 through 6
  4. Why do language-assessment professional associations develop Codes of Ethics and Practice?Answer: To set expectations for responsible professional work, especially where results affect consequential decisions

Based on the Wikipedia article Language assessment, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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