DIALANG

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DIALANG is an online diagnostic language assessment system designed to assess language proficiency in 14 European languages. It was funded by the European Commission and by some 25 institutions, largely universities, throughout the European Union[1].

According to the DIALANG website[2], it was designed primarily for European citizens to assess their language abilities in adherence to Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference – CEFR – as a basis for determining language proficiency. The CEFR is a widely recognized framework used to describe and measure the language proficiency level of a learner in a particular language.

Contents

[edit] Fourteen languages

The current version of DIALANG provides tests in Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Irish, Icelandic, and Norwegian. It is a web-based project, and the system can be downloaded from its website free of charge. Users must have an internet connection in order to utilize the software.

DIALANG offers separate test for reading, writing, listening, grammatical structures and vocabulary. DIALANG provides test instructions, controls, help pages, explanations, self assessment statements, test results, feedback and advice in all 14 languages[3].

These tests enable the users to become aware of their strengths and weakness. The tests are offered across a wide range of proficiency levels from beginners to advanced. Due to the limitations of the test design, DIALANG has not yet developed effective methods to test speaking and writing. Users should note that DIALANG uses an indirect approach to assess written tasks: many writing tasks in DIALANG resemble reading, vocabulary or grammar tasks. Users are given the opportunity to write to complete some tasks; however, they may be limited to just a few words[4].

[edit] Purpose

DIALANG is not intended to be used for certification purposes. It is not designed to certify language proficiency. The purpose of DIALANG is to offer information regarding the strengths and weaknesses of a language. DIALANG suggest that its22:35, 6 June 2008 (UTC)Thechindi (talk) system will be most valuable to teachers, language teaching institutions, institutions running independent language learning schemes, and in institutions interest in promoting language proficiency among their staff[5].

DIALANG is intended for any foreign language learner. DIALANG can assess language proficiency of those formally trained in language classes and those trained informally. DIALANG suggests that its unique feature of offering test in 14 languages could be particularly suitable to the diverse L2 learners in Canada[6].

There are no age restrictions for DIALANG test-takers. Yet, it is important to recognize that the tasks written and designed by DIALANG deal with issues that my not be appealing to young learners. Also, participants whose L1 is not among the 14 languages listed and who are not proficient enough in any of these languages may not be able to understand the instructions or the statements in the self-assessment questionnaire.

By simplifying the language of instruction, DIALANG could be made accessible to a wider range of users [7].

[edit] Assessment procedure

[edit] I.

Users are instructed to indicate the language of instruction. Users are instructed to select a language of instruction. Users have the option of selecting instruction in any of the 14 languages Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Icelandic, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish), or skill (writing, listening, reading, vocabulary and grammar), from the provided list[8].

[edit] II.

User needs to determine if verbs provided are real or invented. This step is optional, but critical in providing a test appropriate for the learner[9]. The vocabulary placement test is used as an instrument to determine a users’ vocabulary size. By estimating the learners’ vocabulary size, DIALANG can provide testing that is appropriate for the learners’ proficiency level. This test is simple and easy to administer. Learners’ are provided with a list of real and invented words. The learner must determine whether the word is a real word in the target language[10].

[edit] III.

The user self-assesses their abilities in the target language and skill chosen. This third step is optional. The user is given a self-assessment questionnaire to indicate their strengths and weakness in the skill area chosen. After the user has completed the selected test, DIALANG will signify if the user had under or over estimated his/her language abilities. There is no self-assessment component for the grammar or vocabulary tests[11].

[edit] IV.

The user is presented with a test at the appropriate level of difficulty (If the user omitted steps II and III then they would be given a generic test that would be either to easy or too difficult). According to the results from the vocabulary placement tests, the user will be given a test at the beginner, intermediate or advanced level in the chosen skill area. Each test contains a total of 30 items. The tests consist of multiple-choice, gap-filling, cloze and short-answer exercises. The user has the option of opting for either immediate or delayed feedback[12].

[edit] V.

The user receives feedback regarding his/her level in the chosen skill area. The user is provided feedback in accordance to the Common European Framework scale. The user is informed if they have obtained basic, independent or proficient proficiency in the chosen skill area[13].

[edit] VI.

The user can select another test in the same language or in another language, or exit. The user has the option of assessing their language proficiency in another skill area or in another language. The user is permitted to verify his/her answers with the test’s correct answers. The user is then provided with as assessment of his/her strengths and weakness in the chosen skill area. The user can choose to quit the test or go back to the main menu to select a new test to take[14].

According to the DIALANG, one test session typically takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete. If the placement test and the self assessment questionnaire are skipped, the process takes 20 to 30 minutes. However, the user can take as long as desired to complete each test[15].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Alderson, J. Charles., Huhta, Ari (2005). The development of a suite of computer-based diagnosis tests based on the Common European Framework. Language Testing, 22 (3), 301.
  2. ^ www.dialang.org
  3. ^ Alderson, J. Charles., Huhta, Ari (2005). The development of a suite of computer-based diagnosis tests based on the Common European Framework. Language Testing, 22 (3), p302.
  4. ^ www.dialang.org
  5. ^ www.dialang.org
  6. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2),p293
  7. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2),p293
  8. ^ www.dialang.org
  9. ^ www.dialang.org
  10. ^ Beeckmans et al., (2001). Examining the Yes/No vocabulary test: some methodological issues in theory and practice. Language Testing, 18 (3), p 238.
  11. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2), p,291.
  12. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2),p,291.
  13. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2), p,291.
  14. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2), p,291.
  15. ^ Zhang, S. & Thompson, N. (2004). DIALANG: A Diagnostic Language Assessment System (review). The Canadian Modern Language Review, 61(2), p292.