Testing Second Language Speaking

The testing and assessment of second language learners is an essential part of the language learning process. Glenn Fulcher's Testing Second Language Speaking is a state-of-the-art volume that considers the assessment of speaking from historical, theoretical and practical perspectives. The book offers the first systematic, comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the testing of second language speaking. Written in a clear and accessible manner, it covers: - Explanations of the process of test design - Costing test design projects - How to put the test into practice - Evaluation of speaking tests - Task types for testing speaking - Testing learners with disabilities It also contains a wealth of examples, including task types that are commonly used in speaking tests, approaches to researching speaking tests and specific methodologies that teachers, students and test developers may use in their own projects. Successfully integrating practice and theory, this book demystifies the process of testing speaking and provides a thorough treatment of the key ethical and technical issues in speaking evaluation.

Glenn Fulcher is Director, Centre for Applied Language Studies, University of Dundee

Preface 1. The history of testing second language speaking 2. Defining the construct 3. Tasks for second language speaking tests 4. Rating scales 5. Test specifications 6. Raters, training and administration 7. Evaluating second language speaking tests 8. Researching second language speaking tests ReferencesAppendicesIndex