東京大学大学院総合文化研究科
言語情報科学専攻
Language and Information Sciences, University of Tokyo
Overview: This class focuses on second language assessment, teaching and learning. Whether we like it or not, assessment is often at the center of teaching and learning. Tests have a huge impact on what and how teachers teach and what and how learners learn. Indeed, communicative approaches to language teaching can only be fully realized when high-stakes testing is also communicative in nature. To understand how to assess a person’s language knowledge and skills, we first must understand precisely what this knowledge and these skills are. In other words, language assessment is predicated on a precise understanding of constructs of language ability. For postgraduate students of applied linguistics and second language acquisition, the subject of language assessment is central to understanding learning, teaching, materials design, test design, curriculum development and language policy. This course aims to provide a practical and comprehensive introduction to language assessment: Students will develop a clearer perspective on classroom learning and teaching, as well as become familiar with a range of research methods and tools for their own investigations of language learning, teaching and testing.
Class 1: Introduction to language assessment Class 2: The socio-cognitive approach to test validity Class 3: A brief history of communicative language assessment Class 4: Context validity Class 5: Theory-based (cognitive) validity Class 6: Task evaluation: Receptive: Cognitive and Context validity Class 7: Theory-based (cognitive) validity Class 8: Task evaluation: Productive: Cognitive and Context validity Class 9: Scoring validity Class 10: Consequential Validity Class 11: Criterion-Referenced Validity Class 12: Test analysis and small-group presentations Class 13: Test analysis and small-group presentations
The course will involve active participation from students at all times. The course will involve lectures and small group work. Students will analyze language tests and present their findings in small groups at the end of the course.
Participation in class activities = 100%
Weir, C.J. (2005). Language Testing and Validation: An Evidence-based Approach. London: Palgrave-Macmillan. (Paperback)
Weir, C.J. (2005). Language Testing and Validation: An Evidence-based Approach. London: Palgrave-Macmillan. (Paperback)
This is an intensive course held at the end of January. The tentative dates are as follows: January 24th (Periods 2,3,4), 29th (2,3,4), 30th (2,3,4) and 31st (2,3,4,5). Homework will involve reading the reference text to support the students’ learning. Students will need to work on an analysis of a language test and present their ideas in the final classes of the course. BEFORE THE COURSE: Students should familiarize themselves with the TEAP test (EIKEN), the TOEFL iBT test, the IELTS test and any other English language exams, including university entrance exams. Students will need to analyze one section of one of one of these exams and present their ideas in the last class of the course. Students can choose which test and which section they wish to analyze (e.g. TEAP, Reading Section). It is therefore recommended that students look at a particular test in detail so that they are familiar with it before we begin the course.
