Language Testing: Approaches and Techniques

1. APPLIED LINGUISTICS
ENGL 203
and LANGUAGE TESTING
Language Testing:
Approaches and Techniques
Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges
GRADUATE SCHOOL
Pioneer Avenue, General Santos City, Philippines
Website: www.rmmcmain.edu.ph
Jea Ann Janet T. Mancao-Mullanida

4. 1950's
• era of behaviorism where special attention was
given to constructive analysis.
• testing is focused on specific language element
such as phonological, grammatical and lexical
contrast between two languages.
• specialist claimed that the whole of the
communicative event was considerably greater
than some of it's linguistic elements
1970's-1980's
• test designs are still challenges in their quest for
more authentic valid instrument that stimulates
real world interaction.
Present

5. APPROACHES IN LANGUAGE
TESTING
Discrete-point
Testing Approach
1
Integrative Testing
Approach
1
Communicative
Testing Approach
1
Performance-based
Testing Approach
1
2
3 4

6. Discrete-point Testing Approach
• tests are constructed on the assumption
that language can be broken down into its
component parts and those parts can be
tested successfully.
• Listening, speaking, reading, and writing
are the skills component.
• Phonology, graphology, morphology,
lexicon, syntax, and discourse are the units
of language.
Example:
I _______a delicious breakfast yesterday.
a. eating b. eaten c. eated d. ate

7. presented by Oler 1983.
either direct or indirect, but indicates
that, it tests more that one skill and/or
item of knowledge at a time.
Example:
Dictation, because it requires listening
skills, writing skills and even grammar.
Integrative Testing approach
• argued that language competence
is unified set of interacting activities.
• claimed that communicative
competencies is so global that and
requires such integration.

8. Communicative Language
Testing
• it covers the four language skills.
• Communicative language testing approach is used to
measure language learners’ ability to use the target
language in authentic situations.
Example:
• Deciding with a friend which movie to watch
• Ordering food at a restaurant
• Giving suggestions to a friend who has asked for advice
• Giving a PowerPoint presentation in a business meeting
• Asking for information over the phone
• the need for a correspondence between language test
performance and language use was included among the
"fundamental" principles of language testing (Bachman and
Palme, 1996).

9. Performance-based
Assessment
• require a student to create a product or answer a question that
will demonstrate the student’s skills and understanding.
• require students to actively participate in a task to assess their
process. The questions or tasks are designed to be practical and
interdisciplinary.
• they also give them insight into what they understand
themselves. With this knowledge, teachers are better able to
understand where a student needs extra assistance and can
modify their lessons accordingly.
• Performance-based assessments meet these criteria:
- Complex
- Authentic
- Process/product-oriented
- Open-ended
- Time-bound

10. TEST
TECHNIQUES

11. Direct Testing vs Indirect Testing
Direct Testing
• requires the test takers to precisely perform the skill
that is wished to be measured.
Indirect Testing
• attempts to measure the abilities that underlie the
skills in which the test is interested.

15. References
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=60ceeb402c636f12JmltdHM9MTY3NjMzMjgwMCZpZ3VpZD0wMDFkOT
c3Ny0zMDM0LTZkMzMtMGVmOC05ODhmMzFhOTZjZmImaW5zaWQ9NTE4Nw&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=001d
9777-3034-6d33-0ef8-
988f31a96cfb&psq=principles+of+communicative+testing+design&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHB1LmVk
dS9yZXNlYXJjaC1wdWJsaWNhdGlvbnMvdGVzb2wtd29ya2luZy1wYXBlcnMvc3ByaW5nLTIwMDgvNl8xXzAy
UGhhbi5wZGY&ntb=1
CommunicatBack To Basics: What Is Performance Based Assessment (PBA)? (uopeople.edu)ive
Language Testing - Bing video
(PDF) CommunicaBack To Basics: What Is Performance Based Assessment (PBA)? (uopeople.edu)tive
Language Testing (researchgate.net)
(PDF) APPROABack To Basics: What Is Performance Based Assessment (PBA)? (uopeople.edu)CHES IN
LANGUAGE TESTING Sub-topic: Constructing Test / Kind of Test (researchgate.net)
Back To Basics: What Is Performance Based AsseBack To Basics: What Is Performance Based
Assessment (PBA)? (uopeople.edu)ssment (PBA)? (uopeople.edu)
(PDF) APPROACHES IN LANGUAGE TESTING Sub-topic: Constructing Test / Kind of Test (researchgate.net)
7. Language Assessment and Principle [H. Douglas Brown] (1).pdf