A contextualized grammar proficiency test using informal spoken English

Abstract

Intensive college-level ESL programs typically focus on building students' academic skills in English. Yet many ESL students leave the intensive programs only to find that they cannot sufficiently comprehend conversations with native English-speaking classmates or understand freshman-level lectures. While the students fre- The present research is based on the hypothesis that a test using spoken informal forms in a context (a dialogue between two speakers; transcript and answers are found in the Appendix) should prove as reliable and valid in ranking the student's level of competence in recognition and written production of English as a test using independent informal elements (the original Integrated Grammar Test).The types of items tested include sentences in both declarative and interrogatory format. The grammatical points targeted for study include the verb (to) BE used as both the copula and as progressive tense auxiliary, and pronouns used in the objective (accusative) and possessive cases.The research also attempts to confirm the hypothesis that the contextualized test should positively correlate with rankings resulting from standardized test scores, although these scores may not be dependent on successful correlation with the Integrated Grammar Test. Scores for test groups are to be correlated and discussed as they relate to these hypotheses.The remainder of this Chapter will focus on characteristics of terms relevant to the present study and outline the information to be presented. 4 DEFINITION OF TERMS TestingTests to examine language fit into several broad categories, each depending on the specified need for in- In the next chapter, several issues relating to integrative versus discrete-point testing will be discussed further. Specific topics will include views on both types of testing, the "general language proficiency factor," schema theory, and the redundancy factor. Reduction is weakened stress on particular words or morphemes within a phrase or sentence: elision is the dropping out of a sound resulting in shortened speech forms, and assimilation is the process by which sounds change phonetically to become more like neighboring sounds (1980:37-53). Bowen (1975) points out that various combinations of sounds in phrases or sentences cause the sandhi effects.His Integrative Grammar Test is based on the hypothesis that the comprehension of informal English can be used as a means to measure overall grammar proficiency of high school and college students studying English. The present 7 research aims to apply Bowen's research to a contextualized dialogue spoken at natural speed by native speakers of English. This exercise is then used to measure the overall grammar proficiency of three groups of college students in ESL programs. ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDYChapter I has introduced the problem of measuring language proficiency based on communicative principles, specifically whether informal spoken English can be used to identify levels of language proficiency. Chapter II discusses the literature on informal...