6 Challenges in Language Assessment in Universities
June 28, 2023
How to Optimize Accuracy and Effectiveness of Language Proficiency Tests in University Settings
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Assessing the language proficiency of staff and students in universities poses a daily challenge for these institutions, which we will address in this article. A significant part of this challenge can be addressed with flexible solutions that are scalable to large teams and never compromise test results.
What are these challenges?
1. Practicality
Conducting language assessments can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, which can be a challenge for universities with limited resources. Administering language validation tests requires dedicated human resources to establish these processes and handle them within often limited time frames dictated by the need to make decisions after the tests.
2. Test design
Designing language assessments that accurately measure language proficiency can be difficult, especially when considering the diverse range of language skills and abilities among staff and students. Currently, there are few methods that can adapt to this variety of needs and allow for an unbiased test that detects different levels and automatically shares the results, thus alleviating the excessive burden of corrections on each institution’s human team.
3. Students
Language assessments can be stressful for learners, especially if they are not familiar with the format or expectations of the assessment. This can affect their performance and the accuracy of the evaluation.
These types of tests, which are crucial for the professional careers of those taking them, are often presented in inaccessible and inflexible ways, making it even more difficult to take them without pressure to pass and demonstrate the assessed individuals’ level of language proficiency.
4. Administrative obligations
Universities may have administrative obligations to meet certain language proficiency requirements for staff and students, which can be challenging to implement and monitor.
In most cases, language certifications are non-negotiable requirements to be part of university staff or access higher education studies. In these cases, conducting level tests that detect English language skills becomes a complex process for the departments involved.
5. Arrangements
Providing accommodations for staff and students can be a challenge, especially when trying to maintain the validity and reliability of the assessment. Therefore, methods that adapt to each profile and provide 100% reliable tests that guarantee an unbiased evaluation are sought.
6. Lack of English language proficiency
One of the biggest challenges facing English Language Learners is a lack of English language literacy, meaning the ability to read, write, express, or understand English. This can make it difficult to accurately assess their language proficiency as the test they take must evaluate them in these four competencies, which directly impact their performance as professionals.
Overall, these challenges continue to be real issues faced by universities. The good news is that they can be addressed with solutions like Langoo, whose online software offers a multilevel test tool that allows for large-scale evaluations.
What does Langoo's multilevel test offer?
Coordinating schedules, test development, manual interventions, evaluations—all of these tasks are eliminated thanks to the multilevel test. It saves time for candidates and process managers.
It ensures an impartial evaluation guided by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
It can handle large-scale processes without compromising the quality and agility of the evaluation.
Candidates can complete the test at any time and anywhere. It facilitates access for both domestic and international students.
It allows for leveling the English proficiency of candidates who have not passed the language test but meet other requirements.
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