The extent to which items from the Test of English as a Foreign Language and the First Certificate in English function differently for test-takers of equal ability from different native language and curricular backgrounds was investigated. Results suggest a need for methods like logistic regression to examine nonuniform differential item…

Several analyses are presented on the relationships among the Test of Spoken English, Test of Written English, and Test of English as a Foreign Language. The multivariate prediction of each test from the scores on the others is very accurate; variances with two prominent factors may relate to specific cognitive test-taking skills. (eight…

Analysis of nearly 1,800 essays written by 17-year-old African-American students were examined in terms of the frequency and distribution of Black English Vernacular (BEV) and the covariance of BEV with rater scores. Results suggests that BEV has converged with Edited American/Standard English and that students were not penalized for BEV in…

This study compared the effects of 2 preschool curricula (Direct Instruction and Mediated Learning) on language development of 107 children with delayed language. No main effect differences were found between programs. Higher performing students on the pretest benefited more from Direct Instruction and lower performing students gained more from…

A novel approach is examined for using developmental sequence data for deciding between Universal Grammar-based and problem solving models of adult nonnative grammatical development. Results support the Universal Grammar-based model of nonnative language acquisition. (19 references) (Author/LB)

Reports on an alternative approach to the face-to-face interview for eliciting speech samples to evaluate second-language proficiency, discussing the reliability and validity of the Indonesian Speaking Test, an example of the tape-mediated simulated oral proficiency interview method. (18 references)(CB)

A specific standardized test of language proficiency, the Grammatical Analysis of Elicited Language (GAEL), for hearing-impaired children was used to examine language usage between the tester and the child. Results from a two-part test (imitated and prompted) show that communicative competence needs to be incorporated into the test as part of…

Approaches to the analysis of utterance disruptions are reviewed, and a system is proposed for analyzing disruptions in spontaneous language, with four disruption categories (pauses, repetitions, revisions, and orphans). Use of the system is illustrated using language samples from 10 traumatically brain-injured and 10 normally developing speakers…

Four issues concerning aspects of the validity of the Attitude/Motivation Test Battery are examined: (1) whether the subtests assess the attributes claimed; (2) the relationship of the subtests to higher order constructs; (3) whether the strategy for measuring affective variables influences correlations with achievement measures; and (4)…

A survey of 239 school-based speech-language pathologists revealed that respondents routinely supplement quantitative assessment procedures with language sample analyses, are sensitive to the effects of some contextual variables on sample representativeness, and use language sampling information to assist in planning intervention services.…

The controversial oral English Bagrut examination is seen as a means to prepare students for their written Bagrut exam, specifically to encourage the active use of the English language. (LB)

Pedagogical and administrative problems in teaching English to native speakers are reviewed, including criteria for students and teachers and lack of a graded syllabus. Guidelines for solving these problems are proposed. (LB)

After noting limited interest in the teaching and/or testing of paralinguistic features of spoken English, this article describes a test that includes a number of items uttered differently, which students are asked to interpret. Suggestions are offered regarding test administration, test items, and student evaluation. (five references) (LB)

Dictation in language testing is discussed: its definition, types, history, procedures, possible applications, and some issues concerning dictation as a device for testing English as a Foreign Language. A sample passage for testing student proficiency is included. (22 references) (LB)

Reactions of Spanish and Italian teenagers to test items on English language ability placement tests were examined. C-tests were the most negatively rated, apparently because of the perceived difficulty of this type of test. No significant differences were observed between genders or between language groups. (Author/JL)