Competency evaluation (language)

In applied linguistics and educational psychology, competency evaluation is a means of determining the language proficiency of an individual without the requirement for standardized testing.^[1]

Usually this includes a portfolio assessment.^[2] In language testing, it may also include student interviews and checklists (e.g., on a scale from 1 to 5 the student or teacher rates their ability to do such tasks as introducing one's family).

Uses

While various governments in Europe and Canada often employ competency evaluation to evaluate bilingual abilities of public employees, it has only recently begun to receive attention from the United States ^{[citation needed]} where large testing corporations have dominated language evaluation with financially lucrative ^[opinion] performance tests such as the TOEFL, MCAT and SAT tests. In psychology, competency can be evaluation to cover civil affairs, such as competency to handle personal finances, and competency to handle personal affairs (such as signing contracts).

References

1. Bachman, Lyle F; Palmer, Adrian S (September 19, 1996). Language Testing in Practice: Designing and Developing Useful Language Tests. Oxford University Press UK. ISBN 978-0194371483.
2. Brown, H. Douglas; Abeywickrama, Priyanvada (10 March 2010). Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices (2nd ed.). P.Ed USA ESL. ISBN 978-0138149314.

• Bachman, L. F., & Palmer, A. S. (2015). Language testing in practice: designing and developing useful language tests. Oxford: Oxford University Press.