Assessing the Language of Young Learners

ISBN-13: 9781781794692 Publisher: Equinox Publishing Publication date: 11/01/2016 Series: British Council Monographs on Modern Language Testing Pages: 220 Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.17(h) x (d) This volume offers new insights into the assessment of the language of Young Learners (YLs). YLs are defined here as being from 5 to 17 years, and are treated as three distinct subgroups: younger children (5/6 to 8/9 years), older children (8/9 to 12/13 years) and teenagers (12/13 to 17 years).The first half addresses fundamental issues, beginning with the characteristics of YLs and how these are manifested in first language development. The authors consider the potential ability of each age group to perform in a second or foreign language, proposing a rough age-related correspondence with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) levels. Finally, principles of assessment, specifically formative assessment and testing, are presented in the light of linguistic, cogniti