53. Language Testing and Assessment (Year 3, Term 2) Koyshekenova T.

LANGUAGE TESTING AND ASSESSMENT

Introduction

Compulsory, Year 3, Semester 6.

Aims

  • to acquaint students with the theory and practice of assessment and testing
  • to develop students' ability to differentiate between the purpose and focus of assessment

Objectives

By the end of the course students will:

  • be aware of basic principles of language assessment
  • be aware of different types of language tests
  • be able to analyse the appropriateness of alternative ways of assessment to certain  teaching contexts
  • be aware of different types of continuous assessment
  • be able to design assessment tools and plan assessment procedures

Indicative content

 Assessment:

       o summative; formative;

 Testing:

       o validity, reliability, practicality

       o Criterion referencing; norm referencing

       o Specification

       o Test types (proficiency, achievement, progress, etc.)

 CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference)

 Test methods (mcq., multiple matching, etc.); Basics of test design (instruction, distracters, etc.)

 How to test/ assess

      o Writing

      o Reading

      o Listening

      o Speaking

      o Integrated skills

      o Vocabulary

      o Grammar

 Alternative ways of assessment (portfolio assessment, self-assessment, project work, logs, reflection tools, etc.)

 Planning assessment

 Washback (influence of assessment on teaching)

Approaches to teaching and learning

 Mini-lectures

 Workshop sessions

 Self study

 Case studies

 Analysis of assessment tools

Learning outcomes

Students should have developed:

 an ability to critically evaluate assessment tools

 an ability to design and use limited range of assessment tools