Language testing involves developing and administering tests to evaluate an individual's proficiency in a language, including their knowledge, ability to discriminate, and different types of skills like achievement, proficiency, and aptitude. Tests are used to determine what a student has learned according to content standards and policies, and performance standards evaluate skills like reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Language evaluation also gauges student growth and development against learning objectives.

1. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Testing is the practice and
study of evaluating the proficiency of an
individual in using a particular language
effectively.
Winning entry from the 2009/10
Priscilla Allen, University of Washington.
http://washington.academia.edu/PriscillaAllen

2. LANGUAGE TESTING
The activity of developing and using language
tests. As a psychometric activity, language testing
traditionally was more concerned with the
production, development and analysis of tests.
Recent critical and ethical approaches to language
testing have placed more emphasis on the uses of
language tests. The purpose of a language test is
to determine a person’s knowledge and/or ability
in the language and to discriminate that person’s
ability from that of others.
Alan Davies, University of Edinburgh.

3. LANGUAGE TESTING
Such ability may be of different kinds,
achievement, proficiency or aptitude. Tests, unlike
scales, consist of specified tasks through which
language abilities are elicited. The term language
assessment is used in free variation with language
testing although it is also used somewhat more
widely to include for example classroom testing
for learning and institutional examinations.
Alan Davies, University of Edinburgh.

4. LANGUAGE TESTING
Primary
Language Assessment
Language Evaluation
Language Testing
Languages and Linguistics
Winning entry from the 2009/10
Priscilla Allen, University of Washington.

5. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
Language assessment is a
program under the field of
applied linguistics that essentially
focuses on evaluating a person’s
fluency in a language.
By: Karize Uy

6. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
The foundation of a language
assessment involves its language
content standards and language
policies.
By: Karize Uy
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-language-assessment.htm

7. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
These two determine what a
student should learn from a
language course and the
expectations and goals he should
meet by the end of the course.
By: Karize Uy
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-language-assessment.htm

8. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
Another important factor in a
language assessment is the
language performance standard.
This determines the language skills a
student should develop in order to
pass the assessment.
By: Karize Uy
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-language-assessment.htm

9. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
This can include skills such as
reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
These skills can be evaluated by, for
example, counting the number of pauses
within talk time, the use of different syntax
and patterns for sentences, and even the
knowledge of proper etiquette during
situational conversations.
By: Karize Uy
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-language-assessment.htm

10. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Assessment
Collecting information on the progress of
students’ learning using a variety of
procedures (e.g., checklists, formal tests,
inventories, self-assessment, writing
folders).
By: Karize Uy
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-language-assessment.htm

11. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Evaluation
Evaluation is used for various
purposes in education. Student
evaluation gauges students’
growth, development, and
progress against stated learning
objectives.
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela20/eval.html

12. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Evaluation
Making judgements on the basis
of the information collected.
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela20/eval.html

13. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Evaluation
Evaluation tells educators the strengths and
weaknesses of the program in order that
adjustments and adaptations can be made. In
addition, teachers grow professionally when they
reflect on their own teaching and when they keep
informed of current instructional strategies and
evaluation methods they may use in their
programs.
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/ela20/eval.html

14. LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Evaluation
Evaluation principles
a. Evaluation should reflect the stated learning
objectives and is integrated with instruction.
b. Evaluation is continuous and useful.
c. Evaluation expectations should be
communicated clearly from the beginning.
d. Evaluation should be fair and equitable.
e. Evaluation should be constructive.
f. Evaluation should be balanced and
comprehensive.