This edited book documents practices of learning-oriented language assessment through practitioner research and research syntheses. Learning-oriented language assessment refers to language assessment strategies that capitalise on learner differences and their relationships with the learning environments. In other words, learners are placed at the…

The guide provides information on 28 public foreign language examinations offered by 14 organizations in the United Kingdom. The information is intended for use in selecting examinations for certifying language skills for employment purposes. Each listing notes the language exams offered, the aims of the test, levels of difficulty, intended age…

Describes the language-testing component of the Aston University (England) preservice teacher-training course, outlining the activities used, examining how they enable the teacher to address target content, and explaining how they form part of a broader approach to teacher education. (Author/MSE)

The washback effect of tests on teaching has attracted considerable attention over recent years, but the critical question of how this translates into washback on learning remains under-explored. To address this issue, questionnaires relating to academic writing instruction were distributed to 108 learners from mainland China preparing for…

A collection of essays and research reports addresses issues in the testing of English as a Second Language (ESL) among foreign students in United States colleges and universities. They include the following: "Overview of ESL Testing" (Ralph Pat Barrett); "English Language Testing: The View from the Admissions Office" (G. James…

This resource guide is designed for teachers and others interested in fostering Spanish instruction in the schools of the United Kingdom, especially at the secondary level. The first of nine chapters looks at the status of and rationale for Spanish language instruction in the United Kingdom. The second chapter addresses topics in instructional…

A resource guide for teachers of Urdu, particularly in Britain, is designed to help them improve the conditions of Urdu instruction in a variety of ways, including pressing the local education authority for better educational provision, creating instructional materials, and making the best use of available equipment and techniques. The first of…

This resource guide for teachers of Russian in the United Kingdom contains 11 chapters designed to encourage and support secondary school Russian language instruction. The first chapter discusses the status and potential of Russian instruction in the United Kingdom. The second chapter addresses topics in instructional management, including…

This resource guide, intended for current prospective teachers of Italian, is designed as a source of information and inspiration for Italian instructors at all educational levels. The first of the guide's 11 chapters provides a brief general introduction to this book. Chapter 2 looks at the status of and rationale for Italian language instruction…

This resource guide is intended for teachers of German and for administrators considering the introduction German language instruction in their schools or colleges in the United Kingdom. The first of 10 chapters looks at the status of German teaching in the British curriculum, primarily at the secondary level. Chapter 2 describes standardized test…

This book, the second of two volumes devoted to instructional media in second language instruction, focuses on specific applications of advanced technology in the classroom. The first part, "Applications," contains seven chapters. They are: "The Language Laboratory in the Computer Age" (S. E. K. Otto); "Television…