Advanced Specialist Certificate (I) in Language Assessment

Course details

This course is specifically designed for language instructors and assessors who are interested in understanding and applying both the assessment for learning (AfL) and the assessment of learning (AoL) within the context of their respective institution's English language syllabuses or courses. It will raise their awareness and appreciation of how AfL complements AoL in language assessment.

In AfL, course participants will be given ample hands-on opportunities to demonstrate how AfL is integrated into everyday English lessons, informing teachers as well as learners of the learning development and process. The key approaches towards implementing such formative assessment involve relooking at the role of the teacher-as-assessor, the nature of effective feedback, and how to create a classroom culture of learner autonomy and collaboration. Issues pertaining to school-based assessment that supports high-quality learning will also be discussed.

In AoL, course participants will be provided with an overview of the principles of summative language testing. They will be taught how to develop test specifications within the context of an English syllabus. They will also be guided to assess summatively the receptive and productive language skills.

Learning Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the key concepts, principles and practices of language assessment of learning and for learning.
• Identify and design test specifications for AfL and AoL in alignment with specific language syllabuses/courses.
• Construct reliable, valid and practical types and modes of AfL and AoL.
• Analyse, interpret and use data from and results of AfL to provide informed and constructive feedback to help improve students' language learning.
• Evaluate and appraise both AfL and AoL that are currently used in their institution.

Course Components

• Assessment of Learning
• Assessment for Learning

Delivery Method

The course will be conducted at SEAMEO RELC Singapore. The course will include lectures, task-based workshops, discussions of prescribed readings and evaluative analysis.

Assessment

Course participants are required to evidently demonstrate and apply all the key principles and concepts learned in the course by designing and building an assessment of and for learning relevant to their respective institution or organization.

Course Requirements

To complete the course successfully, a candidate must:

• satisfy class attendance requirements;
• attain a satisfactory standard in required course work;
• complete all assignments and an exam

Course Award

The course will lead to the award of an Advanced Specialist Certificate in Language Assessment

Entry Requirement

The entry requirements for admission to the course are:

• an approved bachelors degree in a relevant field with at least two years of teaching experience; or satisfactory substitute for the former.

The candidate must have a sufficient command of English to follow advanced study conducted in the English Language and to prepare written and oral assignments. Those from non-English medium education systems must have a recent TOEFL score of at least 550 for the paper-based test or 213 for the computerized version, or an IELTS Grade 6.5.

(If you are registering for the TOEFL test, please quote our code number 2042.  Your official score report will be sent to us directly from Educational Testing Service.)