1. Peggy Garza Associate BILC Secretary For Testing Programs Standardization Initiatives

2. Language Testing Seminars Assistance to National Testing Programs STANAG 6001 Testing Conferences Standardization Initiatives

3. Language Testing Seminar (LTS) Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS) BILC Testing Seminars

4. LANGUAGE TESTING SEMINAR (LTS)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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)

8. ADVANCED LANGUAGE TESTING SEMINAR (ALTS)

9. 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

10. Target audience: LTS graduates who continue to work on STANAG 6001 testing  STANAG 6001 Edition 3 standardization sessions  Focus on Level 3 for practical exercises  Opportunity to exchange best practices Modular approach to seminar Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)

11. LTSALTS 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 Emphasis on test....development process Moderation of already- …. …developed items Limited statistics BAT and other BILC...efforts to standardize testing

12. Three-week seminar  Module 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)

13. 2009 Development Team  Canada, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovenia, USA 2009 Validation Team  Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Spain Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)

14. 2010 Participants  Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)

15. Hot Topics  BAT results ---now what?  Need for periodic renorming sessions and professional development  BILC bridge to inform decision makers  BILC website and Community of Interest  Level 4 conundrum Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)

16. Recommend STANAG 6001 Toolbox for Testers  Samples of listening and reading items at Levels 1-3  Samples of speaking and writing tests at Levels 1-3, including plus levels  Self-Study Guide on Receptive Skills Testing  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  Self-Assessment Checklist for STANAG 6001 Testing Programs  Listing of national testing organization POCs Advanced Language Testing Seminar (ALTS)

17. Bosnia-Herzegovina  2008-present  Workshops and assistance visits Georgia  2009-present  Workshops and assistance visits Azerbaijan (planned) Assistance to National Testing Programs in Partner Nations

18. 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

19. Zagreb, 2009  Focus on standardization, moderation, and validation Sarajevo, 2010  Dates: 31 August – 2 September  Theme: Standardizing Approaches to Testing  Emphasis on building Partner testing programs  Invitations  See Peggy Garza or Jana Vasilj-Begovic STANAG 6001 Testing Conferences