Intended for administrators and policymakers as well as teachers, this digest explores methods of listening and speaking skills assessment. The digest first provides a rationale for teaching and assessing listening and speaking skills. It then examines definitions of oral communication and listening, noting (1) the trend toward defining oral communication by setting, by purpose, or in terms of basic competencies; and (2) an expanded definition of listening that includes critical and nonverbal listening skills. Next, the digest discusses how speaking skills are assessed, explaining observational and structured approaches and their respective rating systems, and touching on the effects of rater reliability. The digest also discusses how listening skills are assessed, expanding on the three important elements in all listening tests: the listening stimuli, the questions used, and the test environment. Finally, the digest explores how assessment instruments should be selected or designed, noting that selection depends upon the purpose for the assessment, and providing guidelines for various purposes. (HTH)