1. INTO EUROPE The Speaking Handbook by Ildikó Csépes & Györgyi Együd
Presentation by Ildikó Csépes
Into Europe - European Standards
in Language Assessment Conference
Budapest, February 9-10, 2006

2. aimed at A2 & B1, and B2 levels of the Common European Framework
THE SPEAKING HANDBOOK IS MEANT TO REFLECT & ILLUSTRATE GOOD PRACTICE IN ORAL ASSESSMENT
MODEL EXAM
developed by the Hungarian Examinations Reform Teacher Support Project of the British Council
aimed at A2 & B1, and B2 levels of the Common European Framework

3. GOOD PRACTICE IS REFLECTED THROUGH
careful test development procedure: constantly revised test specifications
strictly controlled item production procedure (tasks were revised and edited several times)
piloting all tasks with real students (DVD)
training item-writers
the use of item writer guidelines

4. GOOD PRACTICE IS REFLECTED THROUGH
standardised examination procedure (the use of an Interlocutor Frame)
examiner training focusing on both interlocutor & assessor training
the use of benchmarked performances in examiner training

5. WHO IS THE HANDBOOK FOR?
LANGUAGE TEACHERS
who need to learn how to design, administer or prepare students for tests of speaking ability

6. WHAT’S IN THE HANDBOOK? PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background to the assessment of speaking ability
modern speaking examinations: what and how?
CEF scales for speaking
standardisation: importance of benchmarking
description of speaking skills
what may influence the test taker’s oral performance

7. WHAT’S IN THE HANDBOOK? the Interview
PART TWO: DESIGNING ORAL EXAMINATION TASKS IN THE INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRED MODE
the Interview
the Individual Long Turn based on picture prompts
role plays
discussion activities

8. WHAT’S IN THE HANDBOOK ?
PART THREE: STEP-BY-STEP DESRIPTION OF INTERLOCUTOR AND ASSESSOR TRAINING
guidelines for interlocutor and assessor behaviour
standard and non-standard interlocutor behaviour on DVD
role plays raising interlocutors’ awareness of how to handle difficult exam situations
benchmarked sample performances with detailed justifications for the marks

9. WHAT’S IN THE HANDBOOK ? PART FOUR: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GOOD PRACTICE
classroom assessment
general guidelines for designing speaking tasks
differences between testing and teaching tasks
washback
measures of ongoing quality control

10. TRUE or FALSE?
Speaking tasks can be used with any candidates irrespective of their level of proficiency.
Good speaking tasks try to replicate real life language use.
In role play tasks the interlocutor and the candidate should have an opportunity to contribute equally to the exchange.
1. Show task „Mobile Phones” 2. Show task „Parachutist” 3. Show task „Walking Worldwide”

11. TRUE or FALSE?
Speaking tasks should generate a rateable language sample from candidates.
Speaking activities in course books can be used as test tasks.
Any classroom teacher can write speaking tasks for assessment purposes.
4. Task „Walking Worldwide” 5. Task „Walking Worldwide” : do not give unnatural or unfamiliariar roles 6. All the tasks shown illustrate this point

12. INTO EUROPE
Series Editor: J. Charles Alderson
The Speaking Handbook
Ildikó Csépes & Györgyi Együd
The Handbook is accompanied by a 5-hour DVD
Published by Teleki László Foundation
& The British Council
Distributor: Libro Trade
Info: