Oral ability

Oral ability

1. Choose appropriate techniques

   • Responses to audio- or video-recordings
     • Described situations, remarks in isolation to respond to, simulated conversation
   • Interaction with fellow candidates
     • Discussion & role play
   • Interview, pictures, role play, interpreting, prepared monologue

2. Testing oral ability

   • Representative tasks
     • Operations, types of text, addressees, topics, dialect, accent and style
       • Informational skills, interactional skills, skills in managing interactions, types of text
         • Include a representative sample of the specified content when setting tasks
   • Basic problem in testing oral ability
     • We want to set tasks that form a representative sample of the population of oral tasks that we expect candidates to be able to perform.
     • The samples of behaviour can and will be scored validly and reliably.
     • The tasks should elicit behaviour which truly represents the candidates? ability.

3. Plan and structure the testing carefully

   • Make the oral test as long as is feasible.
   • Plan the test carefully.
   • Give the candidate as many "fresh starts" as possible.
   • Use a second tester for interviews.
   • Set only tasks and topics that would be expected to cause candidates no difficulty in their own language.
   • Carry out the interview in a quiet room with good acoustics.
   • Collect enough relevant information.
   • Select interviewers carefully and train them.
   • Put candidates at their ease so that they can show what they are capable of.
   • Do not talk too much.

4. Ensure valid and reliable scoring

   • Size, must be capable of making lengthy and complex contributions where appropriate.
   • Range, a wide range of language must be available to the candidate.
   • Appropriacy, the use of language must be generally appropriate to function and to context.
   • Flexibility, there must be consistent evidence of the ability to "turn-take" in a conversation and to adapt to new topics or changes of direction.
   • Accuracy, pronunciation must be clearly intelligible