The revised and expanded edition of this bestseller is a comprehensive, easy-to-read resource that explores the theory and practice of ESL assessment. Written for anyone working with English-language learners (elementary and secondary, mainstream and ESL), this new edition of Assessment and ESL presents ideas and tools for alternative assessment. The authors offer methods of documenting the learning and progress of second-language learners—learning and progress that may not always be apparent at first glance. Like the previous edition, the new edition is filled with real stories about students who take baby steps, progress in leaps and bounds toward proficiency, and eventually learn to fly on their own.

This text integrates the theory and practice of learner-based assessment. Written in response to two recent movements in language teaching--learner-centered teaching and a renewed interest in authenticity in language testing--it examines the relationship between the language learner and language assessment processes, and promotes approaches to assessment that involve the learner in the testing process. Particular attention is given to issues of reliability and validity. Grounded in current pedagogical applications of authentic assessment measures, this volume is intended for and eminently accessible to classroom teachers and program directors looking for ways to include their students in the evaluation process, graduate students, and professional language testers seeking authenticity in assessment and desiring to create more interactive evaluation tools.

This one-of-a-kind resource offers solutions for teachers who provide exemplary instruction to students from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Using real classroom experiences and current research, the authors focus on the needs of ESL learners in the regular classroom. The activities and assessment tools can be used by classroom teachers and ESL teachers working alone or together. In this book, you will find: ways to incorporate English and the home languages of the ESL students into the same lesson suggestions for informal individual and group assessments for reading, writing, and oral language ideas for welcoming new ESL students examples of criteria that can be used for the assessment of ESL students open-ended lessons and units for all learners, with accompanying reproducible masters

Practical and concise, this introductory text for language teaching professionals is a guide to ESL assessment and to fulfilling the testing component of TESOL programs in the U.S. and around the world. Covering the fundamental descriptive and quantitative facets of effective language testing, it explicates key technical aspects in an accessible, non-technical manner. Each chapter includes relevant practical examples and is augmented by a partnered project that provides practical opportunities for readers to apply the concepts presented in real testing situations. Measurement and Evaluation in Post-Secondary ESL: Discusses effective methods of evaluating the language proficiency of college-bound English language learners in various skills areas such as reading, oral proficiency, and writing Takes a fresh look at accepted assessment concepts and issues such as validity and reliability, construct definition, authenticity, washback, reliable scoring, rater training, holistic and analytic rubrics, standardized tests, and statistical concepts Places special emphasis on innovative methods and alternative forms of assessment, such as self and portfolio assessment, as an adjunct to traditional methods Reviews the changes in the new internet-based Test of English a Second Language launched in 2005 Addresses the role and responsibilities of assessors

Assessing English Language Learners explains and illustrates the main ideas underlying assessment as an activity intimately linked to instruction and the basic principles for developing, using, selecting, and adapting assessment instruments and strategies to assess content knowledge in English language learners (ELLs). Sensitive to the professional development needs of both in-service and pre-service mainstream teachers with ELLs in their classrooms and those receiving formal training to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students, the text is designed to engage readers in viewing assessment as a critical part of teaching appreciating that assessments provide teachers with valuable information about their students’ learning and thinking becoming aware of the relationship among language, culture, and testing understanding the reasoning that guides test construction recognizing the limitations of testing practices being confident that assessment is an activity classroom teachers (not only accountability specialists) can perform Highlighting alternative, multidisciplinary approaches that address linguistic and cultural diversity in testing, this text, enhanced by multiple field-tested exercises and examples of different forms of assessment, is ideal for any course covering the theory and practice of ELL assessment.

Explores the process of assessment as it relates to non-English speaking students, providing an overview of research on alternative assessment, literacy development, and second-language acquisition; looking at how the research applies to speaking, reading, and writing in English as a second language; and including activities.

Why assess? And what will I do with the results? This book examines classroom assessment (not standardized assessment) through the lenses of three ESL teachers from across the United States. The teachers face a number of challenges particular to their individual situations, and other challenges common to all U.S. public school teachers. Most important, this book views teachers as the people best able to make their students successful. The decisions they make about assessments in the areas of literacy, oral language, and content-specific language development result in actionable information. Short reflections, jargon sidebars, and chapter activities make this an enjoyable, user-friendly resource for teachers in any classroom.

This practical resource book will familiarize teachers, staff developers, and administrators with the latest thinking on alternatives to traditional assessment. It will prepare them to implement authentic assessment in the ESL/bilingual classroom and to incorporate it into instructional planning.

English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners provides both theoretical and empirical information about assessing the English language proficiency of young learners. Using large-scale standardized English language proficiency assessments developed for international or U.S. contexts as concrete examples, this volume illustrates rigorous processes of developing and validating assessments with considerations of young learners’ unique characteristics. In this volume, young learners are defined as school-age children from approximately 5 to 13 years old, learning English as a foreign language (EFL) or a second language (ESL). This volume also discusses innovative ways to assess young learners’ English language abilities based on empirical studies, with each chapter offering stimulating ideas for future research and development work to improve English language assessment practices with young learners. English Language Proficiency Assessments for Young Learners is a useful resource for students, test developers, educators, and researchers in the area of language testing and assessment.