Search results for "CEFR"
showing 10 items of 27 documents
Word derivational knowledge and writing proficiency: How do they link?
2016
Abstract Although word derivational (WD) knowledge, i.e., how new words are formed from existing words with help of derivational affixes, is considered important for learners of second or foreign languages (L2), there is still no clear answer as to what aspects comprise the construct of L2 English word derivational knowledge and how it develops. The present study adds to our knowledge on how the ability to derive English words develops among L2 English learners. More specifically, it sheds light on how word derivational knowledge relates to communicatively defined Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) language proficiency levels regarding learners' writing skills. In the study, 117 …
Feedback practices in language classes in Finnish general upper secondary schools
2020
As feedback and formative assessment have a substantial effect on learning, the aim with this paper is to report on a study of the perceptions of Finnish general upper secondary school students of feedback in Swedish and English classes, and to compare how the perceptions differ at language proficiency (CEFR) levels. The data were collected by using a survey and were analysed quantitatively. The results show that several differences occur in Swedish: students with higher proficiency levels find feedback more useful, feel that they receive feedback from teachers, and are more willing to correct their own mistakes. There were no differences in perceptions according to language proficiency lev…
Assessing interactional skills in a paired speaking test : raters’ interpretation of the construct
2019
The operationalization of interactional competence (IC) within the paired speaking test format allows for a range of interactional skills to be tested. However, in terms of assessment, challenges are posed with regard to the co-constructed nature of IC, making investigations into raters’ perceptions of the construct essential to inform test score interpretation. This qualitative study explores features of IC that raters attended to as they evaluated performances in a paired speaking test, part of a Swedish national test of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Two groups of raters, 17 EFL teachers from Sweden, using national standards based on the Common European Framework of Reference for L…
Use your languages! : From monolingual to multilingual interaction in a language class
2015
This reflective paper presents a new course concept for multilingual interaction, which was piloted at the University of Jyväskylä Language Centre in the spring of 2014. The course, implemented as part of the centre’s action research, is the result of a development process aimed at enhancing students’ multilingual and multicultural academic communication competences along with promoting use of their entire linguistic repertoire. The course concept was inspired by the EU project Modularising Multilingual and Multicultural Academic Communication Competence (MAGICC), whose main intent is “to integrate multilingual and multicultural academic communication competences as graduate learning outcom…
Developing a conceptual framework : the case of MAGICC
2015
This paper reports the steps taken to develop the conceptual framework of the MAGICC project (2013), which aimed to provide action-oriented descriptions of multilingual and multicultural academic and professional communication competence, instructional designs to promote these in higher education language teaching, and multidimensional forms of assessment aligned with the learning outcomes established – all presented in an academic ePortfolio that expands the features of the existing European Language Portfolio (ELP) to the higher education level. “Starting with systematic desk research into the existing conceptualisations of multi/plurilingual and multi/ intercultural competences as well a…
Syntactic complexity in Finnish-background EFL learners’ writing at CEFR levels A1–B2
2022
Eurooppalaisen viitekehyksen (EVK) merkitys kielikoulutukselle on lisännyt tutkimusta sen taitotasojen kielellisistä piirteistä; tarkempi tieto näistä piirteistä auttaisi EVK:n soveltamista opetusmateriaalien, kurssien ja arviointin laatimiseen. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin eroavatko EVK:n tasot toisistaan syntaksin kompleksisuuden perusteella. Suomalaiset 14- ja 17-vuotiaat englannin oppijat (N=379) kirjoittivat kolme kirjoitelmaa, jotka arvioitiin EVK:n taitotasoille. Arviointiaineisto tutkittiin monitahoisella Rasch-analyysillä ja tekstien piirteet selvitettiin automaattisilla analyysiohjelmilla. Tuloksien perusteella alimpia EVK-tasoja (A1–A2) erotti selvimmin toisistaan lauseiden ja T-yk…
Danish language tests for adult migrants
2016
In 1999, a new law on Danish language education came into force. In this law, the final examinations in Danish were introduced and set under national governance, and the requirements were defined. Since then the tests in Danish for adult migrants have developed and there has been an ongoing revision of both the language education and tests offered. nonPeerReviewed
Comparing the outcomes of two different approaches to CEFR-based rating of students’ writing performances across two European countries
2018
This study investigated to what extent two teams of experienced raters from different European countries (Finland and Austria), using their own CEFR-based rating scale (one holistic and one analytic), agreed on the CEFR level of students’ writing performances. Both teams rated one hundred performances written by Austrian secondary school students based on two tasks. The Finnish raters (N = 3) applied a holistic CEFR-linked rating scale consisting of verbatim CEFR descriptors developed in Finland, while the Austrian team (N = 6) used an analytic CEFR-linked rating scale consisting of four criteria developed in Austria. The ratings were analysed using the Rasch model. Although there were indi…
Assessing learners’ writing skills in a SLA study: Validating the rating process across tasks, scales and languages
2014
There is still relatively little research on how well the CEFR and similar holistic scales work when they are used to rate L2 texts. Using both multifaceted Rasch analyses and qualitative data from rater comments and interviews, the ratings obtained by using a CEFR-based writing scale and the Finnish National Core Curriculum scale for L2 writing were examined to validate the rating process used in the study of the linguistic basis of the CEFR in L2 Finnish and English. More specifically, we explored the quality of the ratings and the rating scales across different tasks and across the two languages. As the task is an integral part of the data-gathering procedure, the relationship of task p…
Communicative english language skills improvement programme (CELSIP). Vol. 2
2019
The digital revolution of the recent years has led to new ways of learning through combining innovative and traditional methods. In order to engage our students in this new methods, we have designed a project called “Communicative English Language Skills Improvement Program” (CELSIP) so our learners will be able to achieve a higher communicative level in English through a wide range of multimedia resources as, for instance, audio-books, learning apps, educational websites, TV series, films, board games, and music. These multimodal tools are of easy access to students since the vast majority are friendly-user. Our duty through this project was to select the most useful ones for all kind of l…