Nov.8,2011
From October 25th to 29th, at the invitation of the Institute of Applied Linguistics, Professor Jim Purpura of Columbia University, the former president of International Language Testing Association, visited School of International Studies, Zhejiang University. He delivered two wonderful lectures of “Learning-oriented Assessment” and “The Assessment of Meaning” respectively on the mornings of 27th and 28th. Professor HE Lianzhen and Professor JIANG Jingyang hosted each lecture, and nearly 50 teachers and postgraduates attended.
In the first lecture, Professor Jim Purpura analyzed and summarized some problems in the field of language testing, and pointed out the necessity of research in learning-oriented language assessment. Then he introduced the mode of language acquisition and language learning, stating that proper language assessment should be set corresponding to different stages of language learning, which is effective to evaluate students’ language ability in understanding, reconstruction and output in expectation of more positive backwash effects in teaching and learning.
Professor Jim Purpura reiterated that the mode of language acquisition was related to sociolinguistics and socio-cultural theory in the second lecture which was the extension of the first one. He indicated that in language testing much stress was always lain on the accuracy traditionally rather than meaning expression and the correspondence to social culture. So the testing ought to not only emphasize on grammar but also linguistic expression and pragmatic expression. For example, multilevel scoring system should be involved in secondary testing, respectively marking grammar, meaning and pragmatics.
The witty, substantial and inspiring speeches provoked a round of enthusiastic Q&A. With an end in rapturous applause, the two lectures made attendees more acquainted with the relevant researches in language assessment, enriched their language knowledge from a brand-new perspective and enhanced their interest in research. All the attendees commented that they benefited much from the speeches.
(Translated by CHEN Qian)
