Arabic-L:PEDA:Proficiency Test Responses

[Dilworth B. Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Thu 20 Apr 2000
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1) Subject: Proficiency Test Response
2) Subject: Proficiency Test Response
3) Subject: Proficiency Test Response

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1)
Date: 20 Apr 2000
From: Mutarjm at aol.com
Subject: Proficiency Test Response

Greetings / tahaiya tayyiba wa b3ad...

Depending on which skills (and dialects, in some cases) in the Arabic
language are needed for evaluation and rating, the two proficiency tests that
are most familiar to me are:

o  Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) - tape/Q&A reponse and reading.
Test proficiencies in MSA only

o  Oral proficiency interview (OPI) - an interview administered either
face-to-face (usually by a panel) or via telephone.  An OPI's contents can
cover MSA and/or a regional dialect (if qualified interviewers are available
in the dialect).

Those types of tests are used by the

o  Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) at the
Presidio of Monterey, CA

and

o  U.S. Department of State

Results are used to assess / rate / record / report / manage the proficiency
of their language students and personnel in "language-designated" positions.

There are some variants useful for the testing of
second-generation/"heritage" speakers of foreign languages to insure coverage
of their vocabularies and communication skills.

Hope this helps.

Khair, in sha' Allah.

Regards from Los Angeles,

Stephen H. Franke

e-mail: < mutarjm at aol.com >

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2)
Date: 20 Apr 2000
From: "Dr. Sonia Soliman" <g_sonias at qualcomm.com>
Subject: Proficiency Test Response

         In answer to Fatme's question. I like to inform you that a
colleague of mine and I have developed  the Arabic VOCI,  an oral test for
language proficiency. Although the main objective of the test is the
examination of the student's oral proficiency,  it could also be applied
for written proficiency.

         The test is divided into four separate parts from Level 1 to 4.
For each level, the questions vary from basic into advanced.  Based on the
principles and the recommendations of the AATA, the test examine the
competence of the student in the areas of understanding,and communication.
If given as a written exam, it would cover the reading, writing,
comprehension and  speaking.

         The test was designed for the Navy Seals. It consists of a video
in which two people: a young girl and a young man ask  a variety of
questions to the student.  The student answers the question on a tape in a
specific amount of time. The number of minutes changes depending on the
difficulty of the question. The student can change his answer within the
time limit; however, he cannot go back to the question once the time is up
or other questions have been posed.

         The test ends with a series of situations from easy ones to more
complicated. It tests  the elements of vocabulary and the grammatical areas
assigned to each level. Even though, the test  is mainly an oral one, the
same questions could be asked for a written examination and consequently,
achieve the same goal.

         If you need more information, feel free to ask.

         Sonia Ghattas-Soliman

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3)
Date: 20 Apr 2000
From: Dil Parkinson <dil at byu.edu>
Subject: Proficiency Test Response

Dr. Raji Rammuny developed a written Arabic Proficiency Test a number of
years ago, and I think it is still available from him or from the
University of Michigan.  He later developed, with a government grant, a
SOPI test for Arabic (an OPI that uses a tape rather than an interviewer)
and he also has information on the availability of that test.  I don't have
his e-mail available right now, but maybe one of our subscribers could
provide it.
Dil

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End of Arabic-L: 20 Apr 2000