Multilingual Testing and Assessment

The field of multilingual testing and assessment has grown rapidly due to the need to integrate immigrant populations and provide fair and equitable forms of assessment for all students. This book addresses the need for research and guidance on testing multilingual students, introducing an integrated approach that combines information about multilingual learners' knowledge, skills, and abilities with their language background and living environment. It provides an overview of existing research, guidelines for test-writers, teachers, and educators, and demonstrates how to use the integrated approach in a multilingual educational context.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2021
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

The field of multilingual testing and assessment has experienced significant growth in recent years, driven by the urgent need to integrate immigrant populations into mainstream education and ensure fair and equitable assessment for all students. While there has been a notable emphasis on bilingual students, this has resulted in a significant gap in testing and assessment research. This book aims to address this gap by providing comprehensive research and guidance on testing multilingual students.

At the core of this book lies the distinction between designing multilingual tests and testing multilingual individuals. The author introduces an integrated approach to testing and assessment, which combines information about multilingual learners' knowledge, skills, and abilities with their language background and living environment. This flexible approach allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of students' language proficiency and academic achievement.

The book provides an overview of existing research conducted with multilingual populations, highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities they present. It offers guidelines for test-writers, teachers, and educators that outline the steps involved in designing, administering, scoring, and interpreting tests for multiple language speakers. These guidelines are designed to ensure that tests are valid, reliable, and culturally sensitive.

Furthermore, the book demonstrates how to apply the integrated approach to testing and assessment in multilingual educational contexts. It showcases real-world examples and case studies that illustrate the benefits and limitations of different testing strategies and assessment approaches. By providing a practical and applied perspective, the book equips educators and policymakers with the tools they need to create effective testing and assessment policies that support multilingual learners.

In conclusion, this book is a valuable resource for researchers, educators, and policymakers interested in understanding and addressing the testing and assessment challenges faced by multilingual students. By adopting an integrated approach, we can create more equitable and effective testing and assessment practices that support the diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds of our students.

Weight: 252g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800410534