TESTING LISTENINGMauricio Arroba

April 7th, 2014.

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is divided into three main aspects:A) Specifying what candidates should be able

to- Content• Operational• Informational• Interactional• TextsB) Setting criterial levels of performance

C) Setting the tasks- Selecting samples of speech (texts)- Writing items- Possible techniques:1) Multiple choice2) Short answers3) Gap filling4) Information transfer5) Note taking6) Partial dictation7) Transcription8) Moderating the items9) Presenting the texts (live or recorder)D) Scoring the listening tests

A) SPECIFYING WHAT CANDIDATES SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO

Operations

a. Obtain the gist

b. Follow an argument

c. Recognize the attitude of the speaker

Listening specifications should be clear and we should realize whether they are stated or implied.

Informational

Obtain factual information

Follow:a.Instructionb.Sequence

of events (narrations)

c.Justifications of opinions

Understanda.Requests for informationb.Expressions of needc.Request for helpd.Request for permissione.Apologiesf.Comparisons

Recognize:a.Suggestion

sb.Commentsc.Excusesd.Expressions

of preferences

e.Complaintsf. speculation

s

InteractionalUnderstand:a.Greetings

and introduction

b.Expressions of agreement

c.Expressions of disagreement

d.Requests of clarification

Recognize:a.Speaker´s purposeb.Indications of uncertaintyc.Requests for clarificationd.Requests for opinione.Indications of understandingf. Indications of failure of

understandingg.Corrections by speakersh.Modification of statementsi. Speaker´s desire that listeners

indicate understandingj. Speakers justifies or supports

statementsk.Attempts to persuade others

In a diagnostic tests:- Discriminate

between vowel phonemes

- Between consonant phonemes

- Interpret intonation patterns (sarcasm, question, etc.)

Texts

Text types

Text forms Length Speed of

speech

DialectAccentsAuthenticity

B) CRITERIAL LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE

Set appropriate level of text

Appropriate set of

responses

C) SETTING THE TASKS

Selecting a sample of the speechTest

specification in mind

Authentic speech

Find passages

in the internet which fit

into spefication

s

Non-native speech

Make those

passages ourselve

s

Take care of quality

of recording

Feel free to

modify them

Avoid writing

items after listening

Recording must be

according to the level

Provide listener

with scripts

If passages are alter or created –

native speaker

20 sec – follow

direction10 min

academic lectures

Writing items

Long passage

Items noticeable

to test takers

Items not to close to

each other

Ls warned about key

words

Wording should not be exact

Academic speeches

L1 is acceptable

POSSIBLE TECHNIQUES

Multiple

choice

Difficult: keep

alternatives in mind

Alternatives must be short

and simple

Low level:

phoneme discrimin

ation

Short answers

Straight forward answer

A short unique answer

Gap filling

Short question

A short unique answer

Information

transfer

Little demand

of writing

Labeling diagram,

routes

Completing a map

Test taker listens

and write down street names

Note taking

Realistic

Whole lecture and

later questions

Clear structure of lecture so

it is easy to follow

Items such as multiple choice

Avoid evaluatio

n of notes

Trial activity so

Ss get used to lectures

Partial dictati

on

Not authenti

c

Unfamiliar

expressions

Written part to

help out Ls

Spelling

problems

Text and items should be presented to colleagues for moderation

ACTION

1. Let´s complete the listening exercises proposed by Mauricio.