Language Testing The Social Dimension [Paperback]

This volume focuses on the social aspects of language testing, including assessment of socially situated language use and societal consequences of language tests. The authors argue that traditional approaches to ensuring social fairness in tests go some way to addressing social concerns, but a broader perspective is necessary to examine the functions of tests on a societal scale.

 

• Considers these issues in relation to language assessment in oral proficiency interviews, and to the assessment of second language pragmatics.
  
• Argues that traditional approaches to ensuring social fairness in tests go some way to addressing social concerns, but a broader perspective is necessary if we are to fully understand the social dimension of language assessment.

2. Validity and the social dimension of language testing.

3. The social dimension of proficiency: How testable is it?.

4. Psychometric approaches to fairness: Bias and DIF.

5. Fairness reviews and codes of ethics.

6. Language tests and social identity.

7. Language assessments at school: Social values and policy.

8. Where to from here? Implications for research and training

This book … offers a unique perspective [and] has enormous potential to assist anyone wishing to broaden their understanding of language testing.” (TESL-EJ.org)

McNamara and Roever have done a fine jobl³ƒ