peggy garza associate bilc secretary for testing programs standardization initiatives
DESCRIPTION
Language Testing Seminar (LTS) Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS) BILC Testing SeminarsTRANSCRIPT
Peggy Garza Associate BILC Secretary
For Testing Programs
Standardization Initiatives
• Language Testing Seminars • Assistance to National Testing Programs• STANAG 6001 Testing Conferences
Standardization Initiatives
• Language Testing Seminar (LTS)
• Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
BILC Testing Seminars
LANGUAGE TESTING SEMINAR(LTS)
Language Testing Seminar(LTS)
• Developed and conducted by BILC testing experts• Background: A BILC initiative aimed at promoting a
common interpretation of STANAG 6001 and consistency in language proficiency testing
• Specific objective: To give NATO/PfP language teaching professionals the opportunity to practice developing test items based on STANAG 6001
Language Testing Seminar(LTS)
• Held since Autumn 2000 at the Marshall Center, Germany• Two-week graduate-level seminar• Offered three times a year (February, June, November)• More than 325 graduates from NATO/PfP/MD nations
• Each seminar is conducted by BILC testing experts from two or more different BILC member nations
• Faculty from Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovak Republic, UK, and USA
Language Testing Seminar(LTS)
ADVANCED LANGUAGE TESTING SEMINAR
(ALTS)
Advanced Language Testing Seminar(ALTS)
• Need for continuing professional development for test developers identified
• Stakeholders’ meeting in September 2008
• Result: Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• Validated in 2009
• Target audience: LTS graduates who continue to work on STANAG 6001 testingSTANAG 6001 Edition 3 standardization sessionsFocus on Level 3 for practical exercisesOpportunity to exchange best practices
• Modular approach
to seminar
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
LTS ALTS• Introduction to the scale: . STANAG 6001, Edition 3
• Standardization exercises: . ...STANAG 6001, Edition 3
• Focus on L2 • Focus on L3• All four skills integrated • Modular structure• Practical, interactive small . group exercises
• Practical, interactive small . group exercises
• Emphasis on test . ...development process
• Moderation of already- … . …developed items
• Limited statistics • BAT and other BILC ...efforts to standardize testing
• Three-week seminarModule 1: Receptive Skills: Listening and Reading (one week)Module 2: Productive Skills: Speaking and Writing (one week)Module 3: Test Analysis (3 days)Module 4: Managerial Issues (2 days)
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• 2009 Development Team Canada, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovenia, USA
• 2009 Validation TeamBulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Romania, Spain
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• 2010 ParticipantsBosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Georgia,
Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• Hot TopicsBAT results ---now what?Need for periodic renorming sessions and
professional development BILC bridge to inform decision makersBILC website and Community of InterestLevel 4 conundrum
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• Recommend STANAG 6001 Toolbox for Testers Samples of listening and reading items at Levels 1-3Samples of speaking and writing tests at Levels 1-3,
including plus levelsSelf-Study Guide on Receptive Skills Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Self-Assessment Checklist for STANAG 6001
Testing ProgramsListing of national testing organization POCs
Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)
• Bosnia-Herzegovina2008-presentWorkshops and assistance visits
• Georgia2009-presentWorkshops and assistance visits
• Azerbaijan (planned)
Assistance to National Testing Programs in Partner Nations
• Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia Cooperative Event on STANAG 6001 Testing
Forum for sharing best practices and lessons learned
22-28 June at the Marshall Center
Assistance to National Testing Programs
in Partner Nations
• Zagreb, 2009Focus on standardization, moderation, and validation
• Sarajevo, 2010Dates: 31 August – 2 SeptemberTheme: Standardizing Approaches to Testing
Emphasis on building Partner testing programsInvitations
See Peggy Garza or Jana Vasilj-Begovic
STANAG 6001 Testing Conferences