/College of Arts and Sciences
Center for Multilingual and Intercultural Communication

Applying Bi-multilingual, Translanguaging Tests to Match Repertoire of Language Resources in a
Super-Diverse World

Co-sponsored by FAHSS and LLRC
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015, 3:00 PM
Location: SBS S147 (MIC Conference Room)

Watch: Bi-/Multilingual Tests in a Super-Diverse World

Lecture Abstract 

This lecture will challenge the dominant testing policies where test takers are assessed via monolingual tests.
It argues that these tests are based on an outdated view of language as a closed, standard and finite system.
Such tests hinder full manifestation of the 'true' academic knowledge, especially in contexts of migration.
The lecture reports on studies where bi-/multilingual trans-language tests are used, resulting in higher academic
achievements than on monolingual tests. Recommendations are made for the use of bi-multilingual tests of
different formats where tests capture on the full repertoire of languages in integrated ways that legitimize and
acknowledge multilingualism in both teaching assessment.


About the Speaker: Elana Shohamy

Headshot of Elana Shohamy
Elana Shohamy is a professor of Language Education at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. Her work in language testing focuses on the power and the misuses of tests in education and society, classroom assessment, fair testing for immigrants and minority groups, and multilingual assessment. Elana also researches Linguistic Landscape (LL) referring to the diversity of languages in public spaces with a focus on conflicts, contestation and social justice. Her books include: The Languages of Israel: Policy, ideology and practice (w/ B. Spolsky, 1999); The power of tests: A critical perspective of the uses of language tests (2001); Language policy: Hidden agendas and new approaches (2006); Linguistic landscape: expanding the scenery, (ed. w/ Durk Gurter, 2009); and Linguistic landscape in the city (ed. w/ Ben Rafael and Barni, 2010). Elana is the editor of the journal Language Policy and the new and upcoming journal Linguistic Landscape. Elana is the winner of the 2010 lifetime achievement award granted by the International Language Testing Association (ILTA), in Cambridge, UK.