Martin Beck 1

8/12/2019 Martin Beck 1

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Developing Online Tests

Needs and Provisions

Martin BeckGeoff Tranter ALTE 2011, Krakw


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Agenda:

1. What do we understand by Technical English

2. Special Features of Technical English

3. Consequences and Examples

4. Possile Test Formats

5. Initial Experience


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Wikipedia:The page "Technical English" does not exist. You

can ask for it to be created, but consider checkingthe search results below to see whether the topicis already covered.


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Wikipedia:

English for Specific Purposes (ESP) is a sphere of

teaching English language including Business English,Technical English, Scientific English, English for medicalprofessionals, English for waiters, English for tourism,

English for Art Purposes, etc. Aviation English as ESP istaught to pilots, air traffic controllers and civil aviationcadets who are going to use it in radio communications.


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Technical English is the language used by professionals andartisans working in technical and scientific fields at various

.Technical English is built on a common core of grammar andvocabulary that can be found in everyday English. Howevertechnical English also encompasses some highly specializedand specific terms that would not be part of a lay personsvocabulary and it is this crucial feature that characterizes anddistinguishes Technical English.Technical English is essentially lexical in its distinct nature.But this is not its only defining feature. Technical English

typically relies significantly on pictorial and graphicrepresentation.


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Definition of ESPAbsolute characteristics

ESP is defined to meet specific needs of the learners.ESP makes use of underlying methodology andactivities of the discipline it serves.

ESP is centered on the language appropriate to theseactivities in terms of grammar , lexis , register, studyskills, discourse and genre .


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Variable characteristicsESP may be related to or designed for specific disciplines.

ESP may use, in specific teaching situations, a differentmethodology from that of General English.ESP is likely to be designed for adult learners, either at atertiary level institution or in a professional work situation.It could, however, be for learners at secondary schoollevel.ESP is generally designed for intermediate or advancedstudents.


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Questions:


and Business English?

# Do they have the same status?

# Is TE a branch of BE? Or is BE a branch of TE?

# Is Legal English or Medical English a type of TE?


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a) The wide range of Content Areas


# Would a common core simply dilute TE and make it

less relevant for everybody?

# Are the differences compared to General Englishsimply lexical?


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a) The wide range of Content Areas


Any othersuggestions?

Technical English for Architecture

Technical English for Biology

Technical English for Biotechnology and Food Science

Technical English for Chemical Engineering and Chemistry

Technical English for Civil Engineering

Technical English for Mathematics

Technical English for Mechanical Engineering


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b) The Language Skills Required


of speaking, writing, listening and reading?

# Do the various workplace environments have major or

minor differences in terms of language skills?# Does every workplace profile need all the skills?


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c) The Proficiency Level Required


various workplaces?# To what extent is the language proficiency levelconnected with the workplace profile?

# What is the minimum level/maximum level required?A2? B1? B2? C1? C2?

# Is the same level required for all skills?


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d) Work Experience


employment? Professionals not in employment?Students entering the employment market?

# To what extent are their needs different?

# To what extent could the various degrees of workexperience affect their language performance?


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>>>>> Flexibility


# in terms of skills

# in terms of level

# in terms of the type of task that is given in the test


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I. TALXX Language Competence for Train Staff



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II. Aviation English for Pilots


speaking and understanding. Therefore, testing for

compliance with ICAO Annex 1 licensing requirements

should focus on speaking and listening proficiency.


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speaking and understanding . Therefore, testing for

compliance with ICAO Annex 1 licensing requirements

should focus on speaking and listening proficiency .


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a. communicate effectively in voice-only (telephone/radiotelephone) and



in face-to-face situations ;b. communicate on common, concrete and work-related topics withaccuracy and clarity ;c. use appropriate communicative strategies to exchange messages andto recognize and resolve misunderstandings (e.g. to check, confirm, or

clarify information) in a general or work-related context ;d. handle successfully and with relative ease the linguistic challengespresented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurswithin the context of a routine work situation or communicative task withwhich they are otherwise familiar; and

e . use a dialect or accent which is intelligible to the aeronauticalcommunity.


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II. Acceuil Tests for the Hospitality/Tourism Industry



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II. Acceuil Tests for the Hospitality/Tourism Industry


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Flexibility


employment: e.g.# Research and Development

# HR

# .


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4. Designing an Online Test for TE

i) Format:A TE test could consist of the following three parts:

BasicLanguage

Competence

Writing Test SpeakingTest


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4. A Flexible Test Format for TE


BasicLanguage

Competence

Aim: To assess the candidatesgeneral language proficiency inRC, LC and competence in

language elements, e.g.vocabulary, structures.


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Writing Test Aim: To enable the candidate todemonstrate her/his proficiencyin writing texts of different

genres (= different writingtasks) in English


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SpeakingTest

Aim: To enable the candidate todemonstrate her/his proficiencyin speaking English to deal with

different a variety of tasks.


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The BLC is compulsory, the Writing Test and theSpeaking Test are optional .

BasicLanguage

Competence

Writing Test SpeakingTest


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The Speaking Tasks can be done either by phone or Skype.

BLC

BLC Writing

BLC

BLC Writing Speaking

Speaking

OnlinePhone

or

Skype


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ii) Level:The TE tasks assess the candidates skills at the three

levels B1 B2 C1.The online BLC test assesses the candidates generallanguage competence.

The rating criteria for assessment of the written tasksallow a differentiated performance rating across thethree levels.

The rating criteria for assessment of the speaking tasksallow a differentiated rating over the three levels.


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ii) Level:The rating criteria for assessment of the speaking tasks

allow a differentiated rating over the three levels.

>>>>>>The Candidates get a language profile for the skills

they have chosen to take in the test.


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iii) Specialist Area:The candidates can choose the area in which they wish

to be test in the Writing and Speaking Tests.

= The candidates are given a number of different areasand they indicate on registering which of the specialist

areas they wish to be tested in.


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iv) In Employment/Not in Employment:The candidates are given a choice of tasks in the

Speaking and Writing Tests

= The candidates do not need job-based experience toanswer all the tasks.


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Modul 2 onlinetwo to be chosen

Modul 1 online( 1/ 2/ 1)

MCGeneral Business

English in a technicalenvironment

MONDIALE Technical English Exam

Modul 3 onlineSPL distinction

/( )

one as , cr er a- ase eva ua onDescription

E-Mail

Writing Summarising Instructions Report

Writing Note Taking Presenting

Opinion

Oral Exam : a) information-giving task (monologue)b) problem-solving task (dialogue)


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MCGeneral Business




/( )


E-Mail

Writing Summarising Instructions ReportWriting Note Taking

PresentingOpinion



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MCGeneral Business




/( )


E-Mail

Writing

Summarising Instructions ReportWriting Note Taking Presenting

Opinion



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Speaking genres:

a) Monologic

+ Summarising (e.g. a technical article)+ Describing (e.g. a technical process)

+ Presenting (e.g. a technical product)

+ Explaining (e.g. a technical principle)

b) Dialogic+ +Jigsaw activity (e.g. comparing) different

articles on a technical topic, e.g. environment)+ Problem-solving/Decision-taking (e.g. heating system)+ Negotiating (Boss-HoD air-conditioning)+ Job interview+ Discussion (e.g. statistics, technical editorial)


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MC

General BusinessEnglish in a technicalenvironment

Timing


Modul 3 onlineSPL distinction /

( )

o u on ne

SPL distinction( )

Oral Exam - finding a solution


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Result Management


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Evaluation - Writing

+ +

1

/

/


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Evaluation - Speaking

+ +

( )

/

/


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Thank you

[email protected]

[email protected]

Martin Beck 1

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