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Testing of Listening
Why Test Listening ?
• assess how well a student has mastered
what has been taught
• as listening skills is one of the language
skills to be developed – receptive skill
• to be proficient in the language means to
be able to listen effectively
LISTENING TEST
DISCRETE FEATURE
• test of I element / specific
aspect of proficiency
at a time
( i) to evaluate low level
ii) evaluate advanced
integrative skills)
• eg. diff. in sound (minimal
pairs, dictation etc); word
mastery ( listen & respond to
simple command)
TASK-BASED
• Evaluate listening skill
itself
• e.g listening
comprehension
• concern broader comm.
(exchange of facts/ideas
& interpreting speakers
intentions)
TEXT SELECTION
Select kinds
of tasks that
SS normally
have to do
(instructions;
stories)
Determine
number of
speakers
according
to level of
SS
Talk / story
preferable
than
conversation/
story told.
WHY?
False starts,
interruptions
To be
presented
LIVE
(read aloud/
taped)
WRITING ITEMS
• Decide what SKILL & WEIGHTAGE
• in a listening test - student has to listen &
write ( way to express understanding) at
the same time – keep writing to a
minimum
Multiple-Choice Appropriate Response
Advantages
• Fast & easy to correct
• Can be scored
consistently & reliably
• An integrative,
communicative
measure of listening
Limitations
• More difficult to
prepare
• Cheating is fairly easy
unless alternative
forms are used
• SS need to be literate
to read options
Samples of listening tests
1
• Listen to short
talk & identify
word mentioned
(from 2 options
given)
• Discrete test – sound
discrimination
• Beginner’s level
• Word set in isolation
• does not test understanding
of spoken messages
Samples of listening tests
2
DICTATION
• Can measure general proficiency, including
integrative skills used in writing
• Easy to prepare
• Can be scored with good consistency
• Much harder to cheat (MCQ, completion,
cloze)
• Difficult to use for diagnostic purposes –
combine L’g & W’g
• Not usually helpful in measuring short term
progress
• Not as easy to correct (MCQ, completion,
cloze)
Samples of listening tests
3
Paper
&
pencil tests
• Limited response
• Identification –word
level
• SS need to know
language to
understand
instructions
Samples of listening tests
4
Follow
directions
on a map
– put a cross
on Mandy’s
house & write
name of each
building
• Listen and identify-
match word to building
– follow instructions
• Low level/beginner
• Integrative – L,R,W
• Need to understand
words pertaining to
directions (some
language)
Samples of listening tests
5
Radio Reports
• Intermediate /advanced
level
• Intensive listening-listen
for main idea
• requires knowledge of
language
• Integrative skills-L,R&W
• Text selection impt.
Samples of listening tests
6
Talks
&
Lectures
• Intermediate / advanced
• Integrative – L,R,W
• (W)Note-taking skills
• (R) Inferencing skills
• Listening for
comprehension
Samples of listening tests
7
Listen to a
passage
and answer
questions -
MC
• Common test to measure
listening skill
• Integrative
• Intermediate /advanced
Samples of listening tests
8 A
Listen and underline
word included in
sentence.
• Discrete item
• Sound
identification/discrimination
• Words in context
Samples of listening tests
8 B
Listen to a
sentence and
learner circles
appropriate
meaning
• Intermediate /advanced
• Integrative
• Requires reading &
inferencing skills
Samples of listening tests
8 C
Listen to
sentence read
& underline
syllable that is
stressed
• Discrete item – sound
discrimination
• Test pronunciation
• Does not test
comprehension