Topic 3: Approaches To Language Testing: Dr. Premalatha Nair Ipgkba
Topic 3: Approaches To Language Testing: Dr. Premalatha Nair Ipgkba
Approaches to
Language Testing
Dr. Premalatha Nair
IPGKBA
• What is language testing?
• The two important approaches to
Overview language testing
To make decisions
Next, writing
The essay: Writing
skills
process…
Focusses on the
understanding
of the topic:
Integration of
several parts of the
language elements
Now, what • Integration of various language skills
•
is Example: through dictation, a teacher
is able to test students’ spelling,
vocabulary, syntax
Integrative • Integrates knowledge of systematic
components of language (ex:
Integrative Meaning is
Approach considered
important
Measures
learners
competence
Cloze tests
Examples Dictation
of tests
Translation
essays
Flutcher and Davidson (2007) claim most
tests do not emphasize on the extent
knowledge on language is applied in a
meaningful communicative situation.
Communicative
Testing
Approach
Testing emphasizes
Focus the use of authentic
language based on
different situations
and different purposes
Lays more
emphasis on the
notion and
function (agreeing,
persuading..)
The
principles
of
testing…
• Process of obtaining information that
What is is used for making decisions about
Assessment? students, curricula and programs and
education policy.
Measurement?
• A procedure for assigning numbers (scores) to
specified attribute or characteristic of a person in
such a way that the numbers describe the degree
to which the person possesses the attribute
(Nitko, 1983)
Evaluation
Application of judgment or
values, concerning the result
of measurement or
unquantified observation
Assessment
• Ongoing process of gathering and analyzing
evidence of what a student can do
• All varieties of paper-pencil assessment, the
production of all kinds of products, and the
Tests exhibition of all sorts of skills, provided that
the work is done under controlled uniform
condition.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses
of both the approaches.
Tutorial Task • Refer to GC for the task.