As part of their work with the Assessment and Evaluation Language Resource Center (AELRC) at Georgetown University, researchers at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) recently launched a new free resource for post-secondary world language educators. The Post-Secondary World Language Assessment Module guides educators in understanding proficiency-based approaches to assessment, how to place students into programs, and how to use assessment in a comprehensive, systematic way.

The project expands a tutorial on world language assessment with a new module designed to target the needs of educators working with post-secondary world language learners. The tutorial is a companion resource of the Foreign Language Assessment Directory (FLAD), a free, searchable database with information about world language assessments used in elementary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary school programs around the United States. The FLAD and updated tutorial are available on CAL’s website: https://www.cal.org/flad.

To create the new module for post-secondary world language educators, CAL conducted a literature review examining current trends in and research related to post-secondary world language assessment, followed by one-on-one interviews with eight post-secondary world language educators investigating testing uses, needs, and challenges in post-secondary world language programs. An online survey was also distributed to post-secondary world language educators to better understand assessment practices and needs within this community. Findings were used to develop the Post-Secondary World Language Assessment Module, which is designed to help educators working in U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including colleges, universities, and community colleges, as well as other adult community education settings.

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The tutorial is a project of the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) and the Assessment and Evaluation Language Resource Center (AELRC). The AELRC is a Title VI Language Resource Center funded by the Department of Education The contents of this resources do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and one should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.