Language is a structured and shared form of communication like spoken and written words, figures, characters, and gestures, or a combination of these. Language is a structured and shared form of communication like spoken and written words, figures, characters, and gestures, or a combination of these. Language includes rules that dictate word order, tense, social use, and these apply differently depending on the culture in which the language is used. As with other forms of communication, language depends on shared meaning and an increasingly complex understanding of the associated rules and structures. As language is learned, receptive language skills, listening and reading) are almost always stronger and more developed than productive counterpart skills (speaking and writing).

1. Communication and the
Design of Language
Tests
Jieza D. Bajo
Jeda Banhaw
Discussants

2. Defining Communication
Communication is a core function of
human existence. As social beings,
humans seek to communicate with
each other, using a variety of tools
from the time they are born. These
tools include sounds, gestures,
expressions, symbols, and words,
among others.

3. Communication is a social event that
requires sending and receiving
messages with shared understanding
of meaning. The tools available for
communication expand as a person
grows and learns (Gooden & Kearns,
2013).

4.  Communication depends on the
production or expression of a
message and its reception.
 That is, a shared understanding of
meaning is essential to effective
and meaningful communication.
This shared meaning must be
developed through social
interaction, or among participants.

5. DEFINING
LANGUAGE
Language is a structured
and shared form of
communication like spoken
and written words, figures,
characters, and gestures, or
a combination of these.
Language is a structured
and shared form of
communication like spoken
and written words, figures,
characters, and gestures, or
a combination of these.

6. Language is the highest form of
intelligent interaction—and is
reserved for higher order beings of
our universe, namely humans.
No other living thing communicates
verbally and further, reduces that
verbal communication to written
form as well.

7. Communicative Testing
The purpose of language learning is
communication.
Communicative competence is the
development of different learners’
proficiencies that improve our
communication abilities, because it
involves interactions between two or
more people or between one person
and a written or oral text.

8. On the other hand, communicative
testing is a learning tool, which allows
gather evaluative information to
learners and teacher. It evaluates
actual learner’s performance in
ordinary situations, considering the
four language skills of listening,
reading, speaking, and writing.

9. Communicative test Item It should
focus on learner’s communicative
behavior, not only on linguistic ones;
because tests assess students’
performance in real life situations.

10. Communicative tests have to based on
authentic texts and situationally authentic
tasks to promote and generate authentic
communication (we don’t have to forget
student’s personal needs). It’s necessary to
take into account the following characteristics
for designing a communicative test:
 Include meaningful communication
 Authentic situation
 Unpredictable language input
 Creative language output
 Integrate language skills

11. LISTENING ACTIVITY: “Storytelling” Ss
listen to a story and put pictures in the
order in which the story is told.
SPEAKING ACTIVITY: “Meeting and
greeting” This is a role-play activity,
where Ss meet a number of people
(other teachers or students of
advanced level) and introduce
themselves.

12. READING ACTIVITY: “Following
Instructions” Ss read instructions for
prepare a banana cake. First, they have
to match instructions with pictures and
then they put instructions in the correct
order. Finally we can then get Ss to bake
it.
WRITING ACTIVITY: “Description” Ss
write a description of his/her mother or
father’s physical appearance and
temperament.

13. Resources:
 https://altella.wceruw.org/pubs/ALTEL
LA_Brief-07_Language-and-
Communication.pdf
 https://www.ilstranslations.com/blog/la
nguage-vs-communication-theyre-not-
the-same-thing/
 http://languagetesting.info/whatis/lt.ht
ml