Date of Award
12-1-1989
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Advisor
Dr. Joan Horn
Keywords
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, credit by examination, foreign language placement tests, level one 1988 National Spanish Examination, pilot testing programs, predictive validity, Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III, test construction, test format, test selection
Abstract
The serious deficiencies in format, content, and predictive validity of a Spanish I credit by examination test taken by native Spanish-speakers were addressed in this practicum. The proposed adoption of the level one 1988 National Spanish Examination, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and an author-written supplement were evaluated as testing instruments to award credit and place students in advanced Spanish classes by district Spanish II and III teachers. One hundred percent of the Spanish teachers approved the proposed adoption of this examination which tests all aspects of linguistic competency, including the knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and graphology. Guidelines for piloting the exam are also included.