Martin,

I only know of one oral assessment that approaches being valid, global, and fairly objective. It is the federal Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). You can get an idea of how it works at http://www.dlielc.org/testing/Nprofile.doc which is the Defense Language Institute English Language Center website. It is very difficult to train interviewers, although several fed agencies use it. The criteria at that website may at least give you some idea of how it works. No good oral test is really "informal." The OPI came after the old Foreign Service Institute exam, which is easier to administer and not as "tight." The OPI has eleven levels which can be reached; 0, 0+, 1, 1+, 2, 2+, 3, 3+, 4, 4+ and 5. 5 is equivalent to an educated native speaker. The plus scores indicate 60% accomplishment of the next higher level. What you need is entirely dependent on what the objective of the interview is. The interview itself is both an art and a science to reach and assess the candidate's real level.

Ted

       Theodore A. (Ted) Klein, Jr.
  Independent Consultant in Language
         and Intercultural Training
              14456 Agarita Road
          Austin, Texas 78734-2009
             Phone:512-266-1801
            taklein at austin.rr.com
            www.tedklein-ESL.com     
             

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Martin Senger 
  To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 2:43 PM
  Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2096] Advanced Oral Assessment


  Pax et bonum all! (peace & goodness)

   

  I am looking for a good informal assessment/rubric for spoken English for an advanced student. Any suggestions? Thanx in advance!

   

  Martin E. Senger

  Adult ESL Teacher

  GECAC / The R. Benjamin Wiley Learning Center

  Erie, Pa

   

  -----Original Message-----
  From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Lynda Terrill
  Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2008 11:27 AM
  To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov
  Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2095] Information about IRA Conference 2009

   

   

  Dear subscribers,

   

  Here is information about sending proposals--for the adult education and Family Literacy Special Interest Group-- for next year's International Reading Association (IRA) Annual Convention, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona.  Proposals are due February 8; so if you are interested see the information and links below.

   

  Lynda Terrill

  lterrill at cal.org

   

  ***************** 

   

  The Adult Education and Family Literacy Special Interest Group (AEFL-SIG) is currently accepting proposals for the International Reading Association (IRA) Annual Convention (West) that will be held in Phoenix, Arizona February 21-25, 2009. 

   

  The Adult Education and Family Literacy Special Interest Group (AEFL-SIG) panel presentations provide a forum for sharing information about specific areas of interest among reading and literacy professionals.

   

  For 2009, the panel will focus on the use of Web 2.0 technologies in Adult Education, Family Literacy and ESOL programs and how they are being utilized.

   

  Web 2.0 refers to the second generation of the Web. This includes Web-based communities and hosted services such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogging, and tagging, just to name a few.  These technologies are aimed at facilitating creativity, collaboration and sharing between users.

   

  Being a part of the AEFL-SIG panel presentation is a great opportunity to..

   

  ·         Share your knowledge & experience with national and international colleagues 

  ·         Interact and engage in critical dialogue and discussions as it relates to your pedagogy 

  ·         Network with other Adult Education, Family Literacy and/or English Speakers of Other Languages practitioners 

   

  Based on pass experience, the panel presentation is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. This gives each panel member 20 minutes to share.  Q&A is usually reserved for the end of the presentation.  The call for proposal deadline is Friday, February 8, 2008 (3:00 p.m. E.S.T.  If are you interested, please complete the online form located at 

   

  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=myBE5cAG0h2A5EY3xzsDcQ_3d_3d

   

  More information about IRA is obtainable at http://www.reading.org/

   

  If you have questions and/or concerns, pertaining to AEFL-SIG, please contact Kimberly S. McCoy, Program Chair via e-mail at ksmccoy at kent.edu

   



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