Resources in Education


Book Description




Communicative Language Testing


Book Description

Reflecting the shift which has recently occurred in approaches to languages testing in response to developments in teaching, this book highlights the importance of context, purposiveness and realistic discourse in testing, as in teaching.







Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing


Book Description

Offers a discussion of the basic concerns which underlie the development and use of language tests. Presenting a synthesis of research on testing, this book is useful for students on teacher education courses. It is also helpful for those professionally involved in designing and administering tests, acting as a complement to 'how to' books.




A Principled Approach to Language Assessment


Book Description

The United States is formally represented around the world by approximately 14,000 Foreign Service officers and other personnel in the U.S. Department of State. Roughly one-third of them are required to be proficient in the local languages of the countries to which they are posted. To achieve this language proficiency for its staff, the State Department's Foreign Service Institute (FSI) provides intensive language instruction and assesses the proficiency of personnel before they are posted to a foreign country. The requirement for language proficiency is established in law and is incorporated in personnel decisions related to job placement, promotion, retention, and pay. A Principled Approach to Language Assessment: Considerations for the U.S. Foreign Service Institute evaluates the different approaches that exist to assess foreign language proficiency that FSI could potentially use. This report considers the key assessment approaches in the research literature that are appropriate for language testing, including, but not limited to, assessments that use task-based or performance-based approaches, adaptive online test administration, and portfolios.




Proceedings of the 12th METU International ELT Convention


Book Description

This edited collection contains sixteen papers presented at the 12th METU International ELT Convention, “Celebrating Diversity”, held in 2015 in Ankara, Turkey. With the social, cultural and technological changes the 21st century has brought to our lives, every learner today has more diverse needs and expectations, which makes us consider the concept of “diversity” as one of the core points in English language education. Based on the core principle “One size does not fit all”, this volume presents a wide range of topics and covers issues related to diversity in student and teacher profiles, teaching and learning practices, assessment techniques, world Englishes and cultural elements in EFL/ESL classrooms. As such, the proceedings of the 12th METU International ELT Convention are an invaluable reference for those interested in diverse perspectives, applications and practices in the teaching of English as a foreign and second language.




The Writings of Lyle F. Bachman


Book Description

As one of the most recognized names in the fields of language assessment and applied linguistics, Lyle F. Bachman has produced a high volume of scholarly articles and books in the field of language assessment. These writings have strongly influenced the discipline and over the last three decades have played an uncontested role in shaping the field as we know it today. Until now, Bachman’s work has been spread across various mediums and not existed in one place. The Writings of Lyle F. Bachman is the first book to assemble Bachman’s work into a single, comprehensive volume. The collection is composed of seven major sections, each beginning with an introduction by the editors to provide context for the papers. The sections cover some of the most complex topics in the field, including validity and validation, the effects of test task characteristics, interfaces between language testing and second language acquisition, and epistemological issues in applied linguistics. The collection concludes with a state-of-the art paper and insightful reflections about the field of language assessment. The collection traces how Bachman’s ideas and research insights have evolved throughout the years. Given Bachman’s strong impact on the field of language assessment, this volume presents not only a collection of the writings, but also gives an overview of the ongoing issues and debates in the field. This book will be useful to both researchers and graduate students in the areas of language assessment and applied linguistics.




Communicative Language Testing


Book Description




International Handbook of English Language Teaching


Book Description

This two volume handbook provides a comprehensive examination of policy, practice, research and theory related to English Language Teaching in international contexts. More than 70 chapters highlight the research foundation for best practices, frameworks for policy decisions, and areas of consensus and controversy in second language acquisition and pedagogy. The Handbook provides a unique resource for policy makers, educational administrators, and researchers concerned with meeting the increasing demand for effective English language teaching. It offers a strongly socio-cultural view of language learning and teaching. It is comprehensive and global in perspective with a range of fresh new voices in English language teaching research.