33007 LANGUAGE TESTING

Year	No.	Offer	Mode	Description			Cred. Pts
97	33007 	S1  	D 	LANGUAGE TESTING          	1.00

Contents

• Staffing
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Recommended References
• Student Workload
• Assessment Details
• Other Requirements

STAFFING:

Other Teaching Staff:

SYNOPSIS:

Teachers  constantly  have to make judgements  about  the  proficiency
levels  of their students. With the present emphasis on the  goals  of
second  language teaching being more communicative, teachers  have  to
develop skills beyond pen and paper tests to developing skills in oral
and  aural tests also. This unit examines the current knowledge  about
second language testing.

The  unit  will introduce students to the different types of  language
tests and their purposes. It will look at how language proficiency  is
measured and the ways scores are interpreted. It will also discuss the
criteria  for good tests: reliability and validity. Finally,  students
will  have  practice in devising their own tests in  which  they  will
demonstrate  their understanding of the principles of second  language
testing.

OBJECTIVES:

On successful completion of this unit students will be able
to:

1. discuss different types of language tests and their purposes;
   
2. describe different types of scales that are used in
   measurement;
   
3. demonstrate their knowledge in scoring and interpreting test
   data;
   
4. discuss the importance of reliability and validity in testing;
   
5. demonstrate their understanding of test construction by
   developing tests of language proficiency.
   

TOPICS:

 Description                                                    Weighting(%)

Purposes and types of language measurement                            10.00

Measurement scales                                                    10.00

Scoring and interpreting data                                         15.00

Test reliability                                                      10.00

Test validity                                                         10.00

Preparing tests in four macroskills                                   35.00

Preparing tests of grammar and vocabulary                             10.00

TEXT and MATERIALS to be PURCHASED:

"Writing English Language Texts". New Edition. J B Heaton. London:
Longman. 1988.

RECOMMENDED REFERENCE MATERIALS:

"Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing" Lyle F. Bachman,
Oxford: OUP. 1990.

"Techniques in Testing". Harold S. Madsen. New York: OUP.

"Communicative Language Testing" Cyril Weir, Herts, UK: Prentice-Hall
International 1990

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS:

	ACTIVITY				HOURS
Lectures                                      	14
Tutorials/Workshops                           	28
Directed Study                                	54
Private Study                                 	50
Examinations                                  	3
Assessments                                   	25

ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

No  *F/S Marks     Due        Description                              Wtg(%)    LBL
1   S              WK 5      ASSIGNMENT                                5.00      Y
2   S              WK 10     ESSAY ASSIGNMENT (1500-2000 WORDS)        15.00     Y
3   S              WK 17     DEVELOPMENT OF LANG TEST & MARKING SCHEM  20.00     Y
4   S              PASSIM    PARTICIPATION IN TUTES/SEMINARS           10.00     Y
5   S              END S1    3 HOUR EXAMINATION                        50.00     N

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

1    Over  the  three  assignments  and  participation  in  tutorials/
     seminars, students will be expected to achieve half the marks.
2    Students must submit all three assignments.
3    To pass, students must achieve an overall mark of 60%.