Event: ILTA/AAAL Joint Colloquium: Determinants of language proficiency

Organizers: Jan Hulstijn, Rob Schoonen, and Sible Andringa, from the Amsterdam Center of Language and Communication, University of Amsterdam

Conference:The American Association of Applied Linguistics

Date/Time: Saturday, March 24, 2012

Location:Sheraton, Boston, 39 Dalton Street, Fairfax Room, 3^rd Floor

Abstract: This colloquium is concerned with a detailed characterization of the notion of language proficiency. The colloquium addresses the following questions: (1) What are the core and peripheral components of language proficiency? (2) To what extent is performance in L2 tasks determined by abilities of a partially-linguistic or non-linguistic nature, such as language-learning aptitude, working-memory capacity, metalinguistic knowledge, non-verbal intelligence, knowledge of the world, or competence in dealing strategically with the demands posed by the communicative task? The contributors will present empirical research and theoretical models of language proficiency and discuss their implications for practices in L2 assessment and L2 pedagogy. The six talks include: Predicting success in second language acquisition (Catherine J. Doughty, Scott Jackson, Jared Linck, and Meredith Mislevy, University of Maryland); Determinants of successful listening proficiency (Sible Andringa, Jan Hulstijn, Rob Schoonen, Catherine van Beuningen, Nomi Olsthoorn, University of Amsterdam); Exploring a relationship between individual differences in cognitive ability and different aspects of language proficiency (Noriko Iwashita, University of Queensland, and Jenefer Philp, University of Auckland); The construct of language proficiency and linguistic sources of individuals (Rob Schoonen and Jan Hulstijn, University of Amsterdam); The knowledge and skill components of second language proficiency: autonomous siblings or conjoined twins? (Norman Segalowitz, Concordia University Montreal); and What is the role of strategic competence in a processing account of L2 learning or use? (James E. Purpura, Teachers College, Columbia University). Carol Chapelle from Iowa State University will be a discussant.

Event: ILTA/TESOL Presentation: The use of integrated tasks to assess the oral skills of second language learners

Presenter: Gillian Wigglesworth, University of Melbourne

Conference: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages

Date/Time: Friday, March 30, 11 AM – 11:45 AM

Location: Philadelphia Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street, Room 203-A in the Convention Center

Abstract:
The use of integrated tasks in assessment context requires candidates to use skills and strategies beyond language proficiency alone.  In these contexts measurement may be difficult to define for testing purposes, in part because of the ways in which stimulus materials interact with test performance.  There has been considerable recent interest in the way content from the stimulus materials impacts on task performance in integrated, with a variety of problems being identified.  This presentation will discuss the complexities of using integrated tasks for the assessment of language skills and discuss some approaches to investigating how test takers incorporate stimulus materials into the language output, and how these can contribute toward the validation of integrated tasks in language assessments.

Event: Language Testing Research Colloquium

Workshop Dates: April 1-2, 2012

Conference dates: April 3-5, 2012

Location:

Hyatt Regency Princeton

102 Carnegie Center,
Princeton, New Jersey, USA 08540-6293