Online Testing in MFL

[Graham Davies]

DIALANG: Diagnostic Language Testing

DIALANG is a system offering online self-assessment, tests and feedback in 14 European languages. It has been designed for use by learners aged 16 and over. Self-assessment and feedback are related directly to the six-point scale of the Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEF):

http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operati...anguage_Policy/

The CEF is mentioned several times in the DfES “Languages for All” document (December 2002: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/languagesstrategy), the government’s aim being to introduce a new voluntary recognition system to complement existing national qualifications frameworks and the CEF. Bringing our examinations into line with the six CEF levels is long overdue. Our continental cousins and EFL/ESOL examination boards in this country have been using the CEF as a yardstick for many years.

The current beta version of DIALANG can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.dialang.org. The final version will be launched across Europe along with a new-look website later this year.

An introductory module on Computer Aided Assessment in MFL can be consulted at the ICT4LT website: http://www.ict4lt.org – select Module 4.1 from the English language homepage.