News

Leading voices speak up for multilingualism in Kraków

18 July 2011

Kraków, 18 July 2011: Leading voices in language assessment from around the world showcased how they are promoting multilingualism and fairness in language testing at a conference in Kraków last week. The ALTE 4th International Conference focussed on the importance of using frameworks when testing language ability, especially in the case of examinations for high stakes purposes such as immigration. Nearly 400 delegates were welcomed by conference hosts the Jagiellonian University. ALTE – an association of leading language testing organisations representing 26 languages from across Europe – works to promote multilingualism throughout Europe and beyond. Martin Nuttall, from the ALTE Secretariat, said:

“Governments, universities and employers are increasingly using language frameworks such as the Common European Framework of Reference to regulate access to immigration, citizenship and employment. ALTE’s 4th International conference gave us, as language testing experts, an important opportunity to look in detail at the issues this raises. This will help us to consider how we can continue to ensure we provide language tests that are fit for purpose and used appropriately.”

Guest speaker Pierre Mairesse – Director for Lifelong Learning: Horizontal Issues and 2020 Strategy at the European Commission – underlined the importance of the work of ALTE in Europe and there were also key contributions from Emyr Davies, Chair of the ALTE Executive Committee and Professor Karol Musiol, President of the Jagiellonian University. In his plenary presentation, Professor Lyle F. Bachman from the University of California considered how different language frameworks impact language assessment practice and there were other plenary presentations from Professor Giuliana Grego Bolli from the Universita per Stranieri di Perugia, Dr Neil Jones from Cambridge ESOL, Dr Waldemar Martyniuk from the European Centre for Modern Languages in Graz, Professor Elana Shohamy from Tel-Aviv University and Dr Michaela Perlmann-Balme from Goethe Institut. The three-day event included over 100 parallel presentations including an interesting look at how the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uses level descriptions for their translation tests.

The event also provided a platform for the Language Assessment for Migration and Integration (LAMI) forum. Their lively debate looked at the ethical and practical issues associated with using language tests for immigration with a particular focus on language testing and access.

Further reports on the event will be published shortly on the ALTE website www.ALTE.org/2011