Language Testing Research and Test Development for Minority Children in Japan

近年来，日本学校中日语能力有限（LJP）儿童的数量急剧增加。本研究旨在开发一种新的日语作为第二语言的测试，以评估LJP儿童在学校接受日语教学的准备程度。本研究描述了新测试的开发，包括以下子测试：口语测试：控制性口语面试（21项），阅读测试：日语的结构和阅读理解（21项），写作测试：2个故事写作（一个有图片提示，一个没有）。文章还分析，规范，并验证了测试，以提供信息的项目及其格式，将使用测试开发人员，教师和其他有兴趣评估LJP儿童的日语语言技能。本文强调，在语言测试的设计中，了解年龄和学历对LJP儿童语言测试结果的影响是至关重要的。 ...更多信息 本报告根据统计数据和语言教师的专业意见，对写作测试项目的建议进行了检验，但认为对语言少数民族儿童的评估还需要进一步的调查和研究，并重点关注影响学生日语水平的因素。这些因素包括在日本停留的时间，学生的第一语言，性别和年级水平。虽然在日本停留的时间是最重要的决定因素，但他们的母语、性别和年级水平对四种语言技能（听、说、阅读和写作）都有影响。本研究阐述了语言教师和内容教师对学生语言水平的看法，并讨论了他们之间的差异。为进一步完善LJP儿童的语言评估提供了一些具体的建议。少

The number of limited-Japanese proficient ( LJP ) children in Japanese schools has increased dramatically in recent years. It is hoped to develop a new test of Japanese as a second language to assess LJP children's readiness for Japanese medium instruction at their schools.The research describes the development of the new test with the following sub tests : Speaking test : Controlled oral interview (21 items), Reading test : Structure of Japanese and Reading comprehension (21 items ) , and Writing test : 2 story writing ( one with picture cues and one without). The article also analyzes, norms, and validates the test to provide information on items and their formats that will be of use to test developers, teachers and others interested in assessing Japanese language skills of LJP children. The article stresses that it is vital in constructing a language test to understand that the role of age and academic background influence the LJP children's language outcome.The study presents a lis … More t of recommendations for writing test items based on statistical data and professional views from language teachers, and yet concludes that further investigation and research on assessing language-minority children will be needed.The report also focuses on factors that influence the students' Japanese proficiency. These factors include the length of stay in Japan, the students' first language, gender, and grade level. Although the length of stay in Japan is found to be by far the most significant determiner of proficiency,their first language, gender, and grade level are influential on each of the four language skills ; listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Results also show some significant differences in performance according to grade level.This study illustrates the teachers' views, both language teachers and content teachers, on students' language proficiency, and discusses the differences between them. Many concrete suggestions are provided for improving guidelines for language assessment of LJP children. Less