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The workshop from Day 1 - TEAM 2014.
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Tests of Grammar and Vocabulary: Workshop
MELİKŞAH UNIVERSITY, KAYSERI, 29-31 JANUARY, 2014
Dr. Simon Phipps
Outline
! why test grammar and vocabulary ! links to beliefs ! links to curricular specifications ! types of grammar items
! guidelines for writing m/c items
! types of vocabulary items ! lexical density
! considerations when writing items
Why test grammar and vocabulary?
! encourage learners to study - positive backwash
! face validity – learner expectations
! content validity – easy to select items/easier than skills
! ease of administration – esp. placement tests
! grammar and vocabulary can be tested directly (unlike testing of skills)
! knowledge of grammar and vocabulary is a pre-requisite for using language skills
! diagnose learners’ weaknesses/gaps
Links to beliefs about language learning and the role of skills/language
curriculum
testing
Beliefs Language vs skills
Grammar vs vocab
Collocation and lexical phrases
Links to curriculum specifications
! Grammar specifications " Achievement and Progress tests " Placement tests " Sampling - Proficiency tests
! Vocabulary specifications # General indication of size of learner’s vocabulary # Word lists vs course-books # Sampling – frequency vs usefulness # Collocations and lexical phrases # Lexical density of texts used to test grammar and skills
! Positive backwash – achievement/progress
! Testing at recognition vs production level
Types of items for testing grammar
! discrete point m/c ! gap-fill (with/without m/c options) ! cloze test ! transformation ! sentence completion ! error detection
" Problems with multiple choice (see handout)
Types of items for testing vocabulary
! gap-fill (with/without m/c options) ! cloze test ! C-test (first letter/part given) ! word-building ! sentence completion ! vocabulary size test
" Formative assessment – vocab journals
Task
! Examples of problems with test items ! (Handout p3)
Considerations
! Level of learners ! Lexical density of texts
" http://www.readability-score.com/
" http://www.lextutor.ca/
" http://www.online-utility.org/english/readability_test_and_improve.jsp
! Cognitive processes required to complete the tasks (theory-based validity)
Some useful resources
! English profile http://www.englishprofile.org/
http://vocabulary.englishprofile.org/staticfiles/about.html
! Lexical tutor http://www.lextutor.ca/
! Paul Nation’s vocabulary size tests http://www.victoria.ac.nz/lals/about/staff/publications/paul-nation/VST-
version-A.pdf
Thank you!
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