Page 26 - ELG1804 Apr Issue 456

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IATEFL special . SPECIAL FEATURE
Rise technology and teaching. The most effective challenge facing language testing and

What do you think is the biggest
use of digital has been to support more
traditional teaching rather than replace it.
what is the biggest opportunity?
Firstly, there’s a need to promote
assessment literacy. A need to give
Some people are saying we’ve seen
educational professionals as well as parents
peak English and the move is towards
a better understanding of how testing
multilingualism. How far do you think
works. They can then operate as informed
that is true?
I have long said that a knowledge of
look for. Secondly, maintaining test security
of the English has become necessary but not consumers when it comes to what features to
sufficient. Learning English and other
and integrity is an increasing challenge and
languages are not mutually exclusive,
technology is increasingly used to try to
cheat.
and I think interest in both English and
multilingualism will continue to grow, along
On the other hand, it can also be used
with demand for high-quality tests.
to deter, prevent and detect malpractice,
There are believed to be 1.5 billion English
for example by using CCTV surveillance
Machines speakers worldwide. of test-takers or running software to detect
However, we shouldn’t forget that there
improbable patterns of test statistics.
are, for example, 400 million Spanish
Going forward, I think it’ll only be the
better-resourced organisations that are likely
speakers and 21 nation states where Spanish
is an official language.
Learners may want and need English and to be in a position to take the steps necessary
to protect and maintain public confidence
English tests, but the same is true for other in their tests. Technology also remains the
languages. biggest opportunity for language testing. As
As new players enter the market, technology is For example, LanguageCert so far offers ever, its use needs to be managed with great
becoming a vital part of language testing – but the tests in Spanish and Turkish as well as care. Dr Milanovic is chair of the Advisory
English.
human element is still vital, Dr Michael Milanovic explicitly promoted the learning of ‘mother Council at Peoplecert one of a number
The EU’s Barcelona objective, which
of roles he has taken on since stepping
tells the El Gazette tongue plus two’ foreign languages, is a good down as chief executive of Cambridge
example of that principle of multilingualism English Language Assessment.
He is also a visting professor at the
in action. University of Bedfordshire.
or a while, ELT testing seemed Technology facilitates the emergence of items like multiple choice questions. More
to be increasingly dominated new entrants. It provides a great way of recent advances in computational linguistics
by two or three mega spreading the word about new products and machine learning are making this type
Fexam providers. But we are as well as supporting their delivery and of technology in scoring the performance of
suddenly seeing new players, like processing. productive skills a reality.
LanguageCert, entering the market. But technology alone doesn’t deliver a Making it work on a large-scale remains
Language school chains are also full understanding of customer needs. Being challenging, however.
marketing exams to government able to deliver what people actually need is I think it’s also fair to say that many
and Silicon Valley is promising cheap essential to success. educationalists view ‘black box’ marking
online alternatives. How do you see I think that the number of organisations engines of speaking and writing with
this playing out? interested in developing language assessment suspicion. They often feel that the features
The idea of global dominance in language is likely to grow. Those that focus on quality being evaluated are either inadequately
testing is perhaps a bit dramatic. While products and quality service are most likely described by the provider or seem
international exam providers play a key to do well. divorced from the features of real-world
role, it’s always been the case that far more communication.
learners take locally produced tests than Many Technology already impacts significantly on
international ones. educationalists view all aspects of large-scale language testing, for
Clearly, for some purposes, such as study example to support strong customer service,
or migration, there is a restricted range of ‘black box’ to store/retrieve/combine test material stored
tests. The increasing interest in language in item banks, and to ensure speedy and
testing, though, is being driven by the marking engines of accurate marking.
importance people around the world place on speaking and writing
language knowledge in general and English in Does that mean that computers ‘set’
particular. with suspicion the exams?
As you suggest, there are numerous new They are clearly an important part of the
entrants in the language assessment market, process. Computers might help select suitable
one of these being PeopleCert, the group Where do you see the marriage authentic materials, generate options for
behind LanguageCert, which has now turned of technology and language testing multiple choice questions or even help to
its attention to language provision in English going next? Will we see the day when make computer-based speaking tests more
and a range of other languages. computers not only mark the exams interactive.
Testing is like any other industry – but set them? But for the moment, using computer
traditional market leaders are always likely to Digital technology has been used in rating technology alone to write other than the most
be challenged by new entrants. I see this as a language tests for many years, although simple and formulaic test items is a long way
healthy situation which increases choice and mainly with regard to reading and listening off, as anyone has tried to write test items will
drives up quality. skills, where machine marking is ideal for appreciate. There’s a useful analogy here with
26 April 2018 editorial@elgazette.com 27