AJU2201 Language Testing

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: z (credit). Other types of completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jitka Sedláčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jitka Sedláčková, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 18:00–19:40 G32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 1/25, only registered: 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces students to fundamental concepts, such as proficiency and communicative competence, validity and reliability, etc., in language testing and assessment. Various test types, techniques and task types will be discussed and analyzed in relation to the Common European Framework of Reference and the context of teaching/testing English in Czech upper secondary schools. Students will also have practice designing, analyzing and evaluating their own tests.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, a student will be able to: 1. Understand the key concepts of language testing and assessment. 2. Differentiate between different types of tests and select, critically evaluate and use appropriate types of tests for a given context. 3. Discuss advantages and drawbacks of a number of test techniques and task types. 4. Understand and work with the CEFR and make informed decisions as to which language abilities are expected at which levels of student proficiency. 5. Design an evaluation and assessment plan for a course and relate it to the CEFR. 6. Design, pretest, analyze, administer and evaluate a test, both pencil and paper and computer-based.
Syllabus
  • 1. Fundamental concepts in language testing and assessment (validity, reliability, practicality, washback, authenticity, proficiency and communicative competence) 2. Test types, test techniques and task types 3. Test design, test development circle 4. Ways of assessing the systems (grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation) and relating the assessment to the CEFR 5. Ways of assessing the skills (productive and receptive) and relating the assessment to the CEFR 6. Coursebook unit analysis and a construction of a progress test 7. Implementation of formative assessment 8. Grading
Literature
    required literature
  • Brown, H. D., & Abeywickrama, P. (2010). Language assessment: principles and classroom practices. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Education.
  • WILLIAM, Dylan. Embedded formative assessment. second edition. Bloomington: Solution Tree, 2018, x, 225. ISBN 9781945349225. info
  • WILLIAM, Dylan and Siobhán LEAHY. Embedding formative assessment : practical techniques for K-12 classrooms. West Palm Beach, FL: Learning Sciences International, 2015, xx, 244. ISBN 9781941112298. info
    recommended literature
  • Luoma, S. (2004): Assessing Speaking, Cambridge: CUP.
  • Glenn Fulcher (2010): Practical Language Testing,London: Hodder.
  • Underhill, N. (1987): Testing Spoken Language, Cambridge: CUP.
  • Myrick, Jason (2010): Moodle 1.9 Testing and Assessment, Birmingham: PP.
  • McNamara, T. (2000): Language Testing, Oxford: OUP.
  • Shohamy, E. (2001): The Power of Tests,Longman.
  • Purpura, J.E. (2004): Assessing Grammar,Cambridge: CUP.
  • Bachman, Lyle (2004): Statistical Analyses for Language Assessment, Cambridge: CUP.
  • Carol A. Chapelle, Carol A. & Douglas, Dan (2006): Assessing Language through Computer Technology,Cambridge: CUP.
  • Hughes, A. (2003): Testing for Language Teachers, Cambridge: CUP.
  • Glenn Fulcher & Fred Davison (2007): Language Testing & Assessment Oxford: Routledge.
  • Weir, Cyril (2005): Language Testing and Validation, Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Read, J. (2000): Assessing Vocabulary, Cambridge: CUP.
Teaching methods
Lectures, group work, collaborative assignments, reading, online tasks
Assessment methods
Attendance is compulsory. The students will submit assignments, such as new test designs, analyses, etc. throughout the course and one final assignment in the examination period. They will also take a progress test, which will check their in-depth understanding of the issues discussed in the course.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2022/AJU2201