1. Lectures 4 - 6

2. ASSESSING LANGUAGE SKILLS Receptive Skills Productive Skills Criteria for selecting language sub skills Different Test Types & Test Requirements Common Test Format

3. LANGUAGE SKILLS RECEPTIVE SKILLS Listening Reading PRODUCTIVE SKILLS Speaking Writing

4. TESTING OF LISTENING

5. Why Test Listening? assess how well a student has mastered what has been taught listening skill is one of the language skills to be developed – receptive skill to be proficient in the language means to be able to listen effectively

6. TYPES OF LISTENING TESTS Auditory Discrimination tests the ability of the learners to discover the similarities and differences between words Auditory Comprehension tests the ability of learners to analyze and to comprehend

7. Types of tasks in ESL listening tests listening and answering multiple choice questions listening and completing a summary listening and completing sentences listening to complete a table/form/diagram/flow chart listening to answer true / false questions /yes or no questions

8. The types of listening skills you need to learn for English tests include: listening to identify the gist of a conversation or monologue extracting specific factual information listening to identify speaker roles listening to identify relationships between ideas or pieces of information, such as: - cause and effect - order of events - comparison

9. following directions and instructions listening for numbers, dates, time, etc. making inferences determining when a speaker is expressing fact, assumption or opinion. listening for main points, detail, function, location, roles and relationships, mood, attitude, intention, feeling or opinion The types of listening skills you need to learn for English tests include:

10. TEXT SELECTION LISTENING COMPREHENSION Select tasks that students normally have to do: (instructions; lectures) Determine number of speakers according to the level of proficiency of students Talk / story preferred rather than conversation/ story. WHY? False starts, interruptions To be presented LIVE (read aloud/ taped)

11. Ways of testing listening comprehension Limited Response picture cues task responses fill in the blanks Multiple Choice Appropriate Response - focus on meaning - keep options simple - adjust difficulty of items Testing extended communication - understand talks, lectures, radio reports etc

12. Limited Response Advantages Suitable for persons unable to read & write in the target language Involves flexible techniques Questions are generally easy to prepare Rather objective & quick Easy to score Limitations Limited to classes with bilingual teachers & students of the same language background Neither needed nor preferred by intermediate to advanced students Suitable pictures are not always easy to find

13. Multiple-Choice Appropriate Response Advantages Fast & easy to correct Can be scored consistently & reliably An integrative, communicative measure of listening Limitations More difficult to prepare Cheating is fairly easy unless alternative forms are used SS need to be literate to read options

14. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 1 Listen to a short talk & identify words mentioned (from 2 options given) Discrete test – sound discrimination Beginner’s level Word set in isolation does not test understanding of spoken messages

15. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 2 DICTATION Can measure general proficiency, including integrative skills used in writing Easy to prepare Can be scored with good consistency Much harder to cheat (MCQ, completion, cloze) Difficult to use for diagnostic purposes – combine L’g & W’g Not usually helpful in measuring short term progress Not as easy to correct (MCQ, completion, cloze)

16. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 3 Follow directions on a map – put a cross on Mandy’s house & write name of each building Listen and identify- match word to building – follow instructions Low level/beginner Integration of listening, reading & writing skills Need to understand words pertaining to directions (some language)

17. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 4 Radio Reports Intermediate /advanced level Intensive listening-listen for main idea requires knowledge of language Integrative skills-L,R&W Text selection important.

18. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 5 Talks & Lectures Intermediate / advanced Integrative – L,R,W (W)Note-taking skills (R) Inferencing skills Listening for comprehension

19. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 6 Listen to a passage and answer the questions that follow- MC Common test to measure listening skill Integrative Intermediate /advanced

20. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 7A Listen and underline word included in sentence. Discrete item Sound identification/ discrimination Words in context

21. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 7B Listen to a sentence and circle the appropriate meaning of a word Intermediate /advanced Integration of 4 language skills Requires reading & inferencing skills

22. Samples of listening tests SAMPLE 7C Listen to the sentence read & underline the syllable that is stressed Discrete item – sound discrimination Test pronunciation Does not test comprehension