Purpose: The current study was an attempt to provide initial evidence on how to predict the optimal language in which to conduct speech perception testing for Spanish/English (S/E) bilingual listeners. Method: Thirty normal-hearing S/E listeners differing in age of language acquisition, length of immersion, daily language use, self-rated listening…

Informal teacher-made tests and cross-cultural suggestions are presented as a supplement to a lesson guide for English as second language (ESL) instruction in grades K through 12. The testing ideas are intended as an accompaniment to an activities-based audiolingual language learning program. Following a general discussion of informal language…

Sixty bilingual Mexican American children (20 language disorderd, 20 not qualifying for placement, 20 comparison) between the ages of 7-10 from 2 school districts in southern New Mexico participated in the study to develop and validate an assessment procedure to determine language disorders in Spanish/English bilingual children. An ex post facto…

This paper reports on a study comparing oral English proficiency as conventionally measured by instruments currently used in many school districts throughout the United States, with Spanish language abilities of individuals with Spanish language background. Oral language proficiency is defined as the results of a quantitative measure applied to a…

This paper describes an instrument used to assess the receptive language of children. The bilingual child is tested first in the non-dominant language. When the ceiling is reached in the non-dominant language, the tester switches to the dominant language. (The ideal situation would be to give the test in one language one day, then repeat the test…

Assessment of the Spanish-speaking bilingual child's language dominance is essential to bilingual education, but to date there is no universally accepted way of doing this. There are many tests on the market which purport to measure language dominance and achievement, and which involve various criteria and methods. This paper describes four tests,…

This paper examines the usage of testing instruments to identify the language and dialect dominance of children. In order not to misuse language assessment tests, a careful distinction must be made between the terms "language proficiency,""language preference," and "relative language proficiency." Differences in the several types of language…

Summarizes some of the findings of recent study of tests designed to determine the English language proficiency of nonnative speakers. (CFM)

Numerous instruments used by school districts to assess language dominance are not designed to determine either language dominance or proficiency. Nor do they yield sufficient data for appropriate program placement. One example of such an instrument is the Del Rio Language Screening Test (DRLST), designed to screen children of three to seven years…

This book is designed to assist those who work with non-English dominant students by providing resource information relevant to second language teaching and learning. The articles in the series encompass both theory and practical learning techniques in six general topics. Five articles concerning testing are presented in the fourth volume of this…

This paper focuses on the current developments in regard to the assessment of language proficiency in children who are from non-English speaking backgrounds. Instruments currently used to assess language proficiency for placement in English programs usually fail validity and reliability tests. These tests usually measure formal aspects of language…

The test reviews in this guide are intended to be used by school personnel charged with locating and administering appropriate assessment instruments to limited-English-speaking elementary school children. Assessment instruments are reviewed for native speakers of Chinese, French, Italian, Navajo, Portuguese, Spanish and Tagalog. Each instrument…

This journal consists of guides to instructional materials and articles on subjects of interest to teachers in bilingual education programs. The following articles and regular features appear in this issue: (1) "Evaluation of the Impact of ESEA Title VII Spanish/English Bilingual Education Program: Abstract and Summary of Findings"; (2)…

This journal consists of guides to instructional materials and articles on subjects of interest to teachers in bilingual education programs. The following articles and regular features appear in this issue: (1) "Social Class or Culture? -- A Fundamental Issue in the Education of Culturally Different Students," by Frank Angel, an excerpt from a…