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A Rationale for Criterion‐Referenced Proficiency Testing
Author(s) -
Clifford Ray
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/flan.12201
Subject(s) - active listening , language proficiency , reading (process) , criterion referenced test , psychology , interpretation (philosophy) , language assessment , linguistics , computer science , cognitive psychology , mathematics education , natural language processing , standardized test , philosophy , communication
This article summarizes some of the technical issues that add to the complexity of language testing. It focuses in particular on the criterion‐referenced nature of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines—Speaking; and it proposes a criterion‐referenced interpretation of the ACTFL guidelines for reading and listening. It then demonstrates how using criterion‐referenced testing and scoring enhances the accuracy of reading and listening proficiency ratings while also providing informative feedback to learners.