The Cambridge Guide to Second Language Assessment

This collection of original articles provides language teachers with a theoretical background of key issues associated with language testing.

Christine Coombe (Author), Peter Davidson (Author), Barry O'Sullivan (Author), Stephen Stoynoff (Author)

9781107677074, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 January 2012

338 pages
25.5 x 20.5 x 2 cm, 0.78 kg

This collection of original articles provides language teachers with a theoretical background of key issues associated with language testing as well as practical advice on how to improve the effectiveness of the tests they develop and implement. Written by internationally prominent researchers and educators, the chapters are organized into five sections: key issues in the field, assessment purposes and approaches, assessment of second language skills, technology in assessment, and administrative issues. Chapters assume no particular background knowledge and are written in an accessible style.

Preface – Arthur Hughes
A. Key Issues: 1. A brief history of language testing Barry O'Sullivan
2. Foreign/second language assessment literacy Christine Coombe, Salah Troudi and Mashael Al-Hamly
3. Principles of language assessment Hossein Farhady
4. The assessment development process Barry O'Sullivan
5. Test Specifications Fred Davidson and Glenn Fulcher
6. Linking assessment with instructional aims and learning Anne Katz
7. An overview of language standards for language learners Margo Gottlieb
8. The common European framework of reference Elif Kantarc?o?lu and Spiros Papageorgiou
9. Test impact and washback Liying Cheng and Andy Curtis
10. Test-taking strategies Andrew D. Cohen
11. What teachers need to know about test analysis James Dean Brown
12. Ethics in language testing and assessment Annie Brown
13. Professional development in language assessment Stephen Stoynoff and Christine Coombe
B. Assessment Purposes and Approaches: 14. Choosing the right type of assessment James Dean Brown
15. Communicative language testing Keith Morrow
16. Alternative assessment in language education Christine Coombe and Kerry Purmensky
17. Task-based language assessment Ali Shehadeh
18. Authentic assessment Peter Davidson
19. Placement testing Tony Green
20. Assessing young learners Angela Hasselgreen
21. ESL assessment in the workplace Ingrid Greenberg
22. Student involvement in assessment through self and peer assessment Neil J. Anderson
23. Assessment of second language pragmatics Zohreh R. Eslami and Azizullah Mirzaei
C. Assessing Second Language Skills: 24. Assessing reading Nancy Hubley
25. Assessing writing Sara Cushing Weigle
26. Assessing listening John Flowerdew and Lindsay Miller
27. Assessing speaking Barry O'Sullivan
28. Assessing grammar Wayne Jones
29. Assessing vocabulary John Read
D. Technology in Assessment: 30. Computerized language assessment Peter Davidson and Christine Coombe
31. Web-based language assessment Sunyoung Shin
32. Software to facilitate language assessment Young-Ju Lee
E. Administrative Issues: 33. Managing assessment in large EFL classes Brock Brady
34. Marking assessments (rubrics, rating scales) Tony Green and Roger Hawkey
35. Accommodation in language testing Lynda Taylor
Author/subject index.

Subject Areas: ELT: teaching theory & methods [EBA]