ERIC Number: ED410273
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1997-Mar
Pages: 8
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Innovations in Foreign Language Educator Assessment in California.
Silvestro, John R.; And Others
California has developed a new series of credential examinations for foreign language teachers to make it possible to test the competence of teachers in six languages less frequently taught than Spanish and French. These languages are German, Japanese, Mandarin, Punjabi, Russian, and Vietnamese. Each assessment is based on the specifications designed for previously developed tests for teachers of Spanish and French, and each evaluated cultural and grammatical knowledge. California foreign language educators played a significant role in the development of the six assessments. The proposed specifications called for assessing proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing and knowledge of general linguistics concepts and the target culture. Proposed specifications were reviewed and test items were developed. The reviewed items were field tested, and test forms were prepared after holistic scoring of field tests. Additional content reviews were then undertaken to prepare final versions that provide comprehensive assessment of teacher knowledge and skills. An appendix presents general test specifications for the six tests. (SLD)
Descriptors: Educational Assessment, Educational Innovation, Elementary Secondary Education, German, Japanese, Language Teachers, Licensing Examinations (Professions), Linguistics, Listening Comprehension Tests, Mandarin Chinese, Punjabi, Reading Tests, Russian, Second Language Instruction, Speech, Teacher Certification, Teacher Competencies, Teacher Evaluation, Test Construction, Uncommonly Taught Languages, Vietnamese, Writing Tests
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A