Language Testing Research and Test Development for Minority Children in Japan

近年来，日本学校有限日语熟练程度(LJP)儿童的数量急剧增加。该研究希望开发一种新的日语作为第二语言的测试来评估LJP儿童在学校接受日语教学的准备情况。这项研究描述了新测试的发展情况，包括以下分项测试：口语测试：受控口语面试(21个项目)，阅读测试：日语结构和阅读理解(21个项目)，写作测试：2个故事写作(一个有图片线索，一个没有)。本文还对该测试进行了分析、规范和验证，以便为测试开发人员、教师和其他对评估LJP儿童的日语技能感兴趣的人提供有关测试项目及其形式的信息。本文强调，在构建语言测试时，了解年龄和教育背景对LJP儿童语言成绩的影响是至关重要的。本研究提出了一个LIS…根据统计数据和语言教师的专业意见，报告提出了更多关于写作试题的建议，但得出的结论是，还需要对评估语言少数族裔儿童的情况进行进一步的调查和研究。报告还关注了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。尽管到目前为止，在日本逗留的时间长短被发现是最重要的熟练程度决定因素，但他们的第一语言、性别和年级水平对听、说、读、写四项语言技能中的每一项都有影响。本研究阐述了教师对学生语言水平的看法，并讨论了他们之间的差异。对改进LJP儿童语言评估指南提出了许多具体建议。较少

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