Assessment practices in teaching English as an international language

Book section : Chapter

The growth of English as an international language has challenged the validity of many assessment practices, especially in contexts where students are learning English as an international language (EIL). The constructs of many tests center on standardized, inner circle English language norms, and the content of these tests are often sampled from similar contexts. EIL research challenges the validity of these practices in a globalized world, where speakers are using English in its plurality within fluid cultures and contexts. When assessing EIL, it is necessary to refocus practices to center on learners' strategic competence in using the language rather than their grammatical knowledge of it. Although assessment practices in classroom contexts are reflexive to change, standardized testing remains more resistant to change due to inherent difficulties in measuring language use, as opposed to linguistic knowledge of language forms.

Authors: Rose, H; Syrbe, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Host title: TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching
• Publication date: 2018-01-18
• DOI: 10.1002/9781118784235.eelt0655
• EISBN: 9781118784235
• ISBN: 9781118784228
• Language: English
• Keywords: English as a lingua franca; assessment methods in applied linguistics; globalization; English as an international language; language teaching; World Englishes
• Subtype: Chapter