120156 UE Themenspezifische Lehrveranstaltung (Fachdidaktik) (2009W)

Language assessment: theory and practice

This course aims to develop an understanding of fundamental concepts in language testing and assessment as a basis for the practical development of language tests and assessments. It will examine methods of gathering information on how well learners can communicate and how their learning is progressing in order to enable decisions about teaching and learning. These decisions will include placing students in appropriate groups or classes according to their needs, deciding what next to teach, establishing achievement against course goals, and reporting to interested stakeholders about learning outcomes. The policy context in which such assessment occurs will be emphasised, and guiding frameworks for assessment such as official guidelines and the Common European Framework of Reference will be examined in detail. The use of proficiency tests as gatekeeping devices will also be considered. Steps in the development and validation of assessment procedures will be introduced, including the analysis of the social and policy context of test use, analysis of the target use domain, the relevance and reliability of assessments, and methods of establishing and improving the quality of assessments. The assessment of the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing will be considered in detail.