The Development of a Common Framework Scale of Language Proficiency / Brian North.: 8 (THEORETICAL STUDIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION)

North, Brian

ISBN 10: 0820448524 / ISBN 13: 9780820448527

Published by Peter Lang Publishing Inc, 2000

About this Item

Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind.

Seller Inventory # rev4118118856

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Development of a Common Framework Scale of Language Proficiency / Brian North.: 8 (THEORETICAL STUDIES IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION)
• Publisher: Peter Lang Publishing Inc
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0820448524
• ISBN 13: 9780820448527
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Like New
• Weight: 748.4 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Scales describing language proficiency in a series of levels can provide orientation for educational programmes, criteria for assessment, and reporting to stakeholders. However, in most cases such instruments are produced just by expert opinion. A scale of language proficiency actually implies a descriptive scheme related to theory but usable by practitioners. It also implies a methodology for scaling content to different levels. This book describes the use of both qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop scales for the «Common Reference Levels» in the Common European Framework of Reference for modern languages. Short stand-alone descriptors were (i) developed and classified, (ii) refined and elaborated in workshops, and then (iii) scaled by analyzing the judgments of one hundred teachers on the English language proficiency of the learners in their classes.

About the Author

The Author: Brian North is responsible for academic coordination at Eurocentres, a Swiss foundation offering language-learning stays abroad. He has been much involved in the work of the Council of Europe Modern Languages project and is co-author of the Common European Framework of reference for modern languages. His Ph.D. thesis, which won the 1998 TOEFL award for outstanding dissertational research in language testing, concerned the development of language proficiency scales, the subject of this study.