Postgraduate Course: Language Testing (EDUA11045)
Course Outline
| School | Moray House School of Education |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Language testing aims to provide an introduction to important issues in language testing (through relevant literature), practical experience of designing language test items (through a test design project), a wider understanding of research in the field of language testing (based on current research articles) and an additional insight into socio-cultural and ethical aspects of language testing. |
| Course description |
The course links directly into knowledges established through previous modules of the programme. For example, it enhances the understanding of language skills and system. It aligns language assessment within the larger context of learning outcomes and curriculum aims and investigates how language is learned and thus how it should be tested.
The course aims to cover these topics:
1. Accountability, validity and fairness in language testing.
2. Reliability and rating scales.
3. Assessing productive skills (writing and speaking)
4. Assessing receptive skills (listening and reading)
5. Testing techniques and procedures
6. Evaluating test items.
7. Considering ethics.
The course will be taught through a workshop-based interaction with a focus on group interaction. Students are also expected to engage with the topic outside the class, for example by working in small project groups. The outcomes of this engagement will be directly relevant for their written assignment.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 8,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 8,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 8,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
172 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One assignment of 4,000 words consisting of different aspects covered during the course, for example, a reflective summary of the test project, demonstrating critical development of own knowledge and understanding of test concepts, a comparison of two language tests, demonstrating critical awareness of issues regarding different types, domains and purposes of language tests, or similar issues.
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| Feedback |
Students submit an aspect of their reflective writing to provide feedback on the nature of critical reflection. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- show familiarity with a wide range of current ideas and methods in language testing.
- relate them to theories and assumptions about language, and learning, and human abilities.
- have a basic competence in writing classroom tests and evaluating published tests.
- use tests as research tools, e.g. in formative curriculum evaluation.
- show familiarity, at a basic level, with the concerns of professional test writers.
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Reading List
Alderson J. (2000). Assessing Reading. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Bachman, L. (1990). Fundamental Considerations in Language Testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Baxter, A. (2009). Evaluating your Students. London: Richmond.
Buck, G. (2001). Assessing Listening. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Davies, A. (2014). ¿Fifty Years of Language Assessment¿. In Kunnan, A (ed.). The Companion to Language Assessment. London: Wiley, pp. 1 ¿ 19.
Fulcher, G. (2010). Practical Language Testing. London: Hodder.
Hughes, A. (2003). Testing For Language Teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Luoma, S. (2004). Assessing Speaking. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Purpora, J. (2004). Assessing Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Weir, C. (1990). Communicative Language Testing. New York: Prentice Hall |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students develop their evaluative skills through the critical engagement with existing language tests.
Students develop their communication skills through project group work on developing language tests.
Student develop their autonomous learning skills through the project group work. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
GROUP 1:
Workshop
Mondays
1.10pm-2.00pm
Charteris Land 5.3
Thursdays
1.10pm-3.00pm
Thomson's Land G9
GROUP 2:
Workshop
Mondays
1.10pm-2.00pm
Charteris Land 5.3
Workshop
Thursdays
2.10pm-4.00pm
Thomson's Land G10
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| Keywords | language testing construct items validity |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Claudia Rosenhan
Tel: (0131 6)51 6464
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Moira Ross
Tel: (0131 6)51 6206
Email: |
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