This guide discusses evaluation as an element of good literacy education and discusses the development of an evaluation plan for learner-centered adult literacy programs. The provision of good literacy practice is the goal of everyone involved in learner-centered, community-based adult literacy programs. Since the philosophy of learner-centered,…

This paper examines both overseas and domestic tests of English speaking ability from the viewpoint of the crucial testing elements such as definition of speaking ability, validity, reliability, and practicality. The paper points out problems to be solved and proposes suggestions for constructing an oral proficiency test in order to determine the…

The two issues of this journal include the following articles (Titles are translated into English): "General Panorama of Research on Intercultural Education in Europe" (Margarita Bartolome Pina); "Incidence of Some Educational, Social, and Affective Factors in Alcohol Consumption by Teenagers" (Elvira Repetto Talavera, Ma.…

A study investigated whether teaching techniques and the use of self-evaluation tended to increase student motivation and second language proficiency. Subjects were 59 high school Honors Spanish 4 students with varying levels of academic ability, motivation, and proficiency, and included both non-native and English-dominant Spanish speakers. The…

Ways in which the field of applied linguistics is evolving in the changing global context are examined. After a brief review of the field's history in the late twentieth century, and of the development of a number of related professional organizations, the emergence of applied linguistics as an interdisciplinary endeavor is discussed. Major areas…

Illustrated are the roles of teachers, learners, administrators, and a research unit in changing policies and practices on assessment in a university. A case study is used and organizational theory and the participant-observer approach are drawn upon. The Australian National University is the subject. (MSE)

Describes problems resulting from the use of immigrant industrial workers with poor language understanding and the method used to assess functional oral English for occupational purposes. While the form of assessment provides authentic data for company training and communication needs, further research is needed to resolve some problems. (MF)

Investigates, within the context of the question-answer framework of a foreign language oral proficiency test, the interactive nature of spoken discourse between Canadian students and assessors when there is trouble in talk as perceived by the assessors, with a focus on how they accommodate to the students. The study has implications for rater…

Paper describes two assessment projects that provide examples of how preservice physical educators design, implement, and understand assessment, focusing on formative assessment. A volleyball project occurred in a middle school where students had physical education twice weekly. A gymnastics project occurred in an elementary school where teachers…

Topics discussed in this feature include the importance of measurement and evaluation (M&E) in physical education, the gap between theory and practice in physical education M&E, accountability, grading and testing, M&E curricula in professional physical education preparation programs, and practical guidelines for constructing assessment…

Presents the results of a study of the reliability of teacher assessment of the oral examination at General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) for Modern Languages. Teachers' opinions of different types of marking criteria were collected through semistructured interviews after each teacher had assessed a tape-recorded free conversation task…

Describes an experience with Do-It-Yourself Placement (DIYP), a procedure to cope with problems arising from a combination of large classes and an emphasis on analytic grammar skills to the neglect of reading and writing skills relevant to the context of study. Obstacles to change in approaches to second-language teaching are discussed. (13…

A study investigated the quality of teaching in a rural development project in Sierra Leone, based on teacher knowledge of subject matter and beliefs about teaching and classroom management. Focus was on the preservice training of teachers and the attitudes they brought to teaching, rather than on classroom dynamics. Subjects were 100 teacher…

To help low achievers improve their grades and their self-concept, a middle school teacher adapted traditional testing procedures to students' learning styles; he then grouped them by achievement level and participation in the alternative assessment program. Participants had higher test grades, fewer classroom behavior problems, increased…

A set of functional-analytic materials, entailing the study and practice of sociostylistic variation, was implemented in three eighth-grade French immersion (FI) classrooms by their respective teachers during French language arts classes over a five-week period. Pre- and posttests indicate that functional-analytic teaching improved FI students'…