Designing Language Proficiency Tests: Linguistic and Socio-Cultural Considerations

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Asmah Haji Omar
Asmah Haji Omar
1 University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur

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Language proficiency tests for first, second or foreign language are designed for various purposes. Firstly, they may be part of the curriculum of a school or a university where students have to fulfill the requirement of the academic programme they have chosen. Secondly, they may also be a requisite in getting a particular type of job, and such like. In most of these tests, especially in the second type, the focus is on the candidate’s linguistic ability, whereas the social and cultural factors which form part of language usage isoften sidelined. This paper discusses the significance of these three factors -linguistics, social and cultural -in the formulation of language proficiency tests. An illustration is given in the proficiency tests for Malay for foreigners intending to study or work in Malaysia, consisting of three groups -the professionals, the students, and the workforce. The tests are designed against the backdrop of the socio-cultural milieu of Malaysia.Principles taken into consideration in the design of these tests are simplicity versus complexity, the choice of domains and register, authenticity, and sensitivity.

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No external funding was declared for this work.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Asmah Haji Omar. 2015. \u201cDesigning Language Proficiency Tests: Linguistic and Socio-Cultural Considerations\u201d. Global Journal of Human-Social Science - G: Linguistics & Education GJHSS-G Volume 15 (GJHSS Volume 15 Issue G3): .

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GJHSS Volume 15 Issue G3
Pg. 25- 34
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Crossref Journal DOI 10.17406/GJHSS

Print ISSN 0975-587X

e-ISSN 2249-460X

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GJHSS-G Classification: FOR Code: 380299
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April 10, 2015

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English

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Language proficiency tests for first, second or foreign language are designed for various purposes. Firstly, they may be part of the curriculum of a school or a university where students have to fulfill the requirement of the academic programme they have chosen. Secondly, they may also be a requisite in getting a particular type of job, and such like. In most of these tests, especially in the second type, the focus is on the candidate’s linguistic ability, whereas the social and cultural factors which form part of language usage isoften sidelined. This paper discusses the significance of these three factors -linguistics, social and cultural -in the formulation of language proficiency tests. An illustration is given in the proficiency tests for Malay for foreigners intending to study or work in Malaysia, consisting of three groups -the professionals, the students, and the workforce. The tests are designed against the backdrop of the socio-cultural milieu of Malaysia.Principles taken into consideration in the design of these tests are simplicity versus complexity, the choice of domains and register, authenticity, and sensitivity.

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Designing Language Proficiency Tests: Linguistic and Socio-Cultural Considerations

Asmah Haji Omar
Asmah Haji Omar University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur

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