Language Testing in Europe: Time for a New Framework?
The Second International Conference on Language Testing, to be held in Antwerp from 27 to 29 May 2013, aims to stimulate scholarly debate regarding the use of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in language testing. Salient issues to be discussed, as described at the conference website, include:
- Competence and performance
What is the link between ‘can do’ performance statements and areas of linguistic knowledge? To what extent can or should the levels be made more explicit in terms of required vocabulary and grammar? - Degree of difficulty of the levels
How can we make sure that our examinations are measuring at the CEFR levels we claim they are? What evidence do we have to support our claims? - Test purpose
Why are we testing? What kind of decisions will be made on the basis of information collected via the test? What will be the consequences of these decisions? - Practicality
How do we link our tests to the CEFR? How practical, applicable and operational is the CEFR for concrete language testing situations?
Keynote speakers include Lyle Bachman (UCLA) and Waldemar Martyniuk (European Centre for Modern Languages of the Council of Europe). Charles Alderson (Lancaster U), Etienne Devaux (Belgian Civil Service Commission) and Jan Hulstijn (Universiteit Amsterdam) are also listed as invited speakers.
Call for papers
Abstracts are invited for practice-related papers (20 minute presentations related to language testing and the CEFR, followed by 10 minute discussion), research sessions (20-minute research, followed by 10-minute discussion), posters and symposia (three or four thematically coherent presentations, each lasting 20-30 minutes). Abstracts should be submitted using the template provided, and submitted electronically here (these links are no longer active).
Important dates
| First call for papers: | 20 November 2012 |
| Second call for papers: | 15 December 2012 |
| Online registration opens: | 20 December 2012 |
| Deadline for abstract submission: | 15 January 2013 |
| Notification of acceptance: | 22 February 2013 |
| Early bird registration ends: | 5 April 2013 |
| Registration ends: | 20 May 2013 |
| Conference starts: | 27 May 2013 |
Registration Fees
The registration fee for the conference is set at €350. Early bird registration (before 5 April 2013) is offered at a discounted fee of €250. The optional conference dinner is set at €55.
More information can be found at the conference website (link no longer active).