Assessing English for Professional Purposes

This book **provides a state-of-the-art account of the various kinds of language assessments used to determine people's ability to function linguistically in the workplace. This book is key reading for researchers, graduate students and practitioners working in the area of English for Specific Purposes assessment.

* WINNER OF* ILTA/SAGE Best Book Award 2020

Assessing English for Professional Purposes provides a state-of-the-art account of the various kinds of language assessments used to determine people's abilities to function linguistically in the workplace. At a time when professional expertise is increasingly mobile and diverse, with highly trained professionals migrating across national boundaries to apply their skills in English-speaking settings, this book offers a renewed agenda for inquiry into language assessments for professional purposes (LAPP). Many of these experts work in high-risk environments where communication breakdowns can have serious consequences. This risk has been identified by governments and professional bodies, who implement language tests for gate-keeping purposes. Through a sociological lens of risk and responsibility, this book:

• provides a detailed overview of both foundational and recent literature in the field;

• offers conceptual tools for specific purpose assessment, including a socially oriented theory of construct;

• develops theory and practice in key areas, such as needs analysis, test development, validation and policy;

• significantly broadens the scope of the assessment of English for professional purposes to include a range of assessment practices for both professionals and laypeople in professional settings.

*Assessing English for Professional Purposes* is key reading for researchers, graduate students and practitioners working in the area of English for Specific Purposes assessment.

Autorentext

Ute Knoch is an Associate Professor in Language Testing at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

** Susy Macqueen** is a Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the Australian National University.

Klappentext

This book provides a state-of-the-art account of the various kinds of language assessments used to determine people's ability to function linguistically in the workplace. This book is key reading for researchers, graduate students and practitioners working in the area of English for Specific Purposes assessment.

Inhalt

Introduction

Chapter 1 Scope

Chapter 2 Construct

Chapter 3 Needs

Chapter 4 Development

Chapter 5 Validity

Chapter 6 Policy

Conclusion

References

Index