12. Discourse and Assessment

McNamara, Tim; Hill, Kathryn; May, Lyn

doi:10.1017/s0267190502000120

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“…In the following sections, this article offers a survey of related research areas that are beginning to make a mark on the field and computational approaches to assessment drawing on natural language processing (NLP) technology. Discourse-based proficiency tests (McNamara et al, 2002) Listening tests (Read, 2002) Pronunciation assessments (Levis & Cortes, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corpora and Language Assessment: The State of the Art

Park

2014

Language Assessment Quarterly

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This article outlines the current state of and recent developments in the use of corpora for language assessment and considers future directions with a special focus on computational methodology. Because corpora began to make inroads into language assessment in the 1990s, test developers have increasingly used them as a reference resource to become well versed in terms of the linguistic characteristics of expert and novice speakers' usage and identify the test construct. In regard to developing and validating language tests, large representative corpora, learner corpora, and specialized corpora have been actively used, as these corpora have made it possible to systematically compare the linguistic features associated with expert users with those found in learner language. Recent advances in computational approaches to assessment can facilitate this comparison to a great extent using technologies in automated essay scoring and learner language analysis. As an emerging area in the field of language assessment, corpus-based research should extend to less explored areas including compilation and longitudinal analysis of developmental corpora, fine-grained microanalysis of learner's development, and assessment attuned to individual learners who use different linguistic varieties. INTRODUCTIONThis article outlines the current state of and recent developments in the use of corpora for language assessment and considers future directions with a special focus on computational approaches to assessment. A corpus is a principled collection of language materials, spoken or written, compiled into an electronic database for the purpose of linguistic analysis (Biber, Conrad, & Reppen, 1998;Sinclair, 2004). Early discussions on the use of corpora for the purpose of assessing language use dates back to the mid-1990s when the potential of corpora for assessment was first recognized (e.g., Alderson, 1996). Since then, corpora have been increasingly used for large-scale standardized tests as well as for more holistic and developmental assessments. The present article has two related purposes: (a) to review the use of corpora in language assessment and (b) the potential contribution of corpora to language assessment, which include exploratory endeavors drawing on longitudinal, qualitative, and computational techniques. In the following sections, this article offers a survey of related research areas that are beginning to make a mark on the field and computational approaches to assessment drawing on natural language processing (NLP) technology.Correspondence should be sent to Kwanghyun Park,

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corpora and Language Assessment: The State of the Art

Park

2014

Language Assessment Quarterly

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“…Davies et al, 1999), and are interpreted by raters as the de facto test construct (Mcnamara, 2002). Rating scales therefore embody the underlying notion of what abilities are being measured through assessment.…”

Section: Rating Scale Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Second Language Pronunciation Assessment

Fulcher¹,

Browne²

2016

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General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms This series brings together titles dealing with a variety of aspects of language acquisition and processing in situations where a language or languages other than the native language is involved. Second language is thus interpreted in its broadest possible sense. The volumes included in the series all offer in their different ways, on the one hand, exposition and discussion of empirical findings and, on the other, some degree of theoretical reflection. In this latter connection, no particular theoretical stance is privileged in the series; nor is any relevant perspective -sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, neurolinguistic, etc. -deemed out of place. The intended readership of the series includes final-year undergraduates working on second language acquisition projects, postgraduate students involved in second language acquisition research, and researchers, teachers and policy-makers in general whose interests include a second language acquisition component. Second Language Pronunciation Assessment SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITIONFull details of all the books in this series and of all our other publications can be found on http://www.multilingual-matters.com, or by writing to Multilingual Matters, St Nicholas House, 31-34 High Street, Bristol BS1 2AW, UK. SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: 107 Second Language Pronunciation AssessmentInterdisciplinary Perspectives All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. Edited by Talia Isaacs and Pavel Trofi movich MULTILINGUAL MATTERSThe policy of Multilingual Matters/Channel View Publications is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products, made from wood grown in sustainable forests. In the manufacturing process of our books, and to further support our policy, preference is given to printers that have FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. The FSC and/or PEFC logos will appear on those books where full certification has been granted to the printer concerned.Typeset by Nova Techset Private Limited, Bengaluru and Chennai, India. Printed and bound in the UK by the CPI Books Group Ltd. Printed and bound in the US by Edwards Brothers Malloy, Inc. In Memory of Alan Davies and Danielle Guénette AcknowledgementsThis edited volume, which brings together different but complementary research perspectives to establish a common platform in which to discuss issues relevant to assessing second language (L2) pronunciation, would not have been possible without the contributions and commitment of the authors, who explore key issues through different disciplinary lenses in the chapters that make up this volume. The vision for the book arose during a cold Canadian winter at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century, when a sense of momentum for i...

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“…Studies have proved that task difficulty can be changed by manipulating the task conditions and task qualities (e.g, McNamara, 2002;Norris, 2002). Figure 3.…”

Section: Skehan's Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Models of Speaking Performance and Its Implications for the Development of Procedural Framework for Diagnostic Speaking Tests

Zhao¹

2013

IES

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This paper aims at developing a procedural framework for the development and validation of diagnostic speaking tests. The researcher reviews the current available models of speaking performance, analyzes the distinctive features and then points out the implications for the development of a procedural framework for diagnostic speaking tests. On basis of the overview and the experience gained from the development of Diagnostic College English Speaking Test, The researcher elaborates on the process of the development of the procedural framework. The framework is composed of four major phases: phase 1 needs analysis, phase 2 test design, phase 3 test piloting, administration and validation, and phase 4 test impact. Each phase is further divided into several steps, each having concrete aims and objectives. Literatures relevant to each component of the procedural framework are also recommended by the researcher to help teachers to develop their own diagnostic tests. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research on the development of computerized diagnostic assessment systems.

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12. Discourse and Assessment

Cited by 61 publications

References 0 publications

Corpora and Language Assessment: The State of the Art

Corpora and Language Assessment: The State of the Art

Second Language Pronunciation Assessment

An Overview of Models of Speaking Performance and Its Implications for the Development of Procedural Framework for Diagnostic Speaking Tests

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