Abstract

This paper investigates the validation of the computer-based listening subtest in the Certificate of English for Primary Teachers (CEPT), which is addressed to in-service primary teachers who work in state Italian schools. Since 2004, these teachers, specialists in other subjects, have been asked by the Italian Ministry of Education to teach English to their pupils. Training courses for different CEFR levels and certification have been devised by Italian universities for in-service teachers who are then allowed to teach English in primary schools. This study will briefly illustrate the new requirements set by the European Council in terms of foreign language teaching and learning from an early age. A profile of the foreign language teacher will then be presented and a more detailed analysis of the Italian situation will be provided. The paper then presents the CEPT administered in the Emilia-Romagna region, Italy, by the Language Centre of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, with a special focus on the listening subtest. In order to validate the listening test tasks, a mixed methods study was conducted. In particular, the results of the listening subtest administered in June 2015 to 67 candidates and in June 2017 to a new sample of 354 test takers have been statistically analysed and semi-structured interviews have been conducted with a test developer, a teacher trainer and a test taker. In order to shed light on the content relevance and coverage of the CEPT listening subtest under investigation, the judgement expressed by three experienced University English language instructors has been analysed. The results of the quantitative and qualitative data gathered confirm the validity of the CEPT listening subtest. Implications for future research are provided.