Arabic-L:PEDA:Pilot Testing of MSA Reading and Listening Assessments

[Dilworth Parkinson]

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Arabic-L: Mon 18 Feb 2008
Moderator: Dilworth Parkinson <dilworth_parkinson at byu.edu>
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1) Subject:Pilot Testing of MSA Reading and Listening Assessments

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1)
Date: 18 Feb 2008
From:dJohnson at cal.org
Subject:Pilot Testing of MSA Reading and Listening Assessments

This is a copy of the pdf attachment that didn't go through before.
RE: Pilot Testing of Modern Standard Arabic Reading and Listening  
Comprehension
Assessments

ALTA Language Services, Inc. (ALTA) is an independent firm that is  
recognized as one of the leaders
in language services and language testing in the United States. ALTA  
has been contracted by the
Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) to develop reading and listening  
comprehension assessments that
will serve to assess proficiency on the ILR scale, up through a level  
2, as well as provide diagnostic
feedback.

As part of this project, we are piloting test content created in  
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) by a team
of test developers. Potential pilot candidates interested in  
participating in this project will be asked to
take two assessments (about 100 questions per assessment) created in  
MSA: one for reading
comprehension, and the other for listening comprehension, as well as  
participate in an interview
immediately following completion of the assessments to describe his/ 
her experience with the
assessments. The delivery method of the assessments will either be  
through an online application or a
CD-ROM.

Candidates who wish to participate in the pilot process should be a  
level 0 – 3 on the ILR scale for
Modern Standard Arabic.

The objective of this pilot is to verify that all test content and  
items are clear and do not contain
confusing or duplicate answers. The results of the pilot will also be  
used to perform item analysis
studies once the pilot has reached its conclusion.

Scheduling for the pilot tests will begin February 18, 2008. Please  
call 1-800-505-1758 for available
dates and times of the pilot tests.

Compensation is $50.00 ($25.00 per test) upon completion of both  
assessments and a short interview.
The estimated amount of time for completing the tests and interview is  
between 2 – 3 hours.

Because this study involves the review of confidential testing  
instruments, all participating candidates
will be asked to sign a standard Trade Secret Agreement form. The  
names of participating candidates
may also be released to the current test administrator of The Defense  
Intelligence Agency.

For more information regarding this study, please contact me directly  
at 404.920.3826.

Thank you.


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End of Arabic-L:  18 Feb 2008