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Language Assessment and Testing 2018/19 Ιnstructor: Dr. Salomi Papadima-Sophocleous Student: Kasapis Constantinos
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Tests are for measuring student's second language ability, competence and performance. According to Allen Priscilla , University of Washington, ''Language testing is the practice and study of evaluating the proficiency of an individual in using a particular language effectively.'' Nowadays it might not be the only method of assessing but it is the passport for securing a place at a university, better career or job promotion.
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Two thousand years ago the Chinese Imperial Exams began in Mandarin Language to select the best for government office.
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Jesuits brought the Chinese notion of examinations to Europe
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In Britain students were tested on their mastery of curriculum which included Latin.
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During French Revolution examination was modified to suit the needs of a strong central government.
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The first standardized test was introduced in the USA.
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These exams tested the language performance of people from the British colonies who wished to enter the British education system
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The first foreign language test was developed
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MCQ test was developed in the Kansas Test of Silent Reading; this marked the beginning of large scale testing in the USA.
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The Test of English as a Foreign Language - consisted of oral interviews, writing essays, vocabulary and grammar exercises- was introduced in the USA
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The Test of English for International Communication was introduced with aim to enhance English for business purposes.
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The ELTS was initially intended for students who wanted to study particular disciplines such as Social Studies, Emphasis was placed on productive and receptive skills.
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The American Council of the Teaching of Foreign Languages Speaking Proficiency Guidelines. It is the only national organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction.
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The IELTS is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. There is only one module with two options - academic and general training
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The Canadian Language Benchmarks
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The CEFR is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. It is and international standard in measuring language ability.
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It is a free, downloadable language diagnosis system developed by many European higher education institutions and funded by the European Commission
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European Association for Language Testing and Assessment
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They provide an approach for organising the curriculum in Australian schools,
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SurveyLang brings together five of the world’s leading organisations in language assessment (Cambridge ESOL, CIEP, Goethe-Institute, Instituto Cervantes, Universidad de Salamanca, and CVCL Università per Stranieri di Perugia) to develop and deliver the Language Test instruments for the European Survey on Language Competences.
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Cambridge-Michigan Language Assessments: Cambridge ESOL Examinations and the U-M English Language Institute Testing
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.Today, international examinations can be of value if they are designed to be used in a specific domain. We can see a fragmentation in the language testing industry and the improvement of local testing which results in emergence of national language testing organisations . As far as future concerned there is a possibility of further technology involvement. Will people be tested by computers? Only time will tell.
