Development of Web-Based Communicative Tests for Measuring Foreign Language Proficiency

(1)在第一年，岩崎和田中/劳尔分别为日本大学生开发了德语和英语的基本交际测试。为了编写这些交际测试，我们选择了大约50种基本语言功能作为衡量学习者交际能力的支点。使用的功能包括提供道歉、请求帮助、建议行动方案等。语言功能摘自Baldegger，M./Mueller，M./Schneider，G./Naef，A.(1980)：Kontaktschwell le Deutsch ALS Fremdsprache。也来自J.A./Trim的Van Ek，J.L.M.(1990)：门槛90。在第二年，我们实施了这些交际测试，以及田中和劳尔已经开发的其他英语资格测试。这些测试可以在以下网站(http://flare.media.hiroshima-u.ac.jp)，)上找到，并可用作自动自我评估测试。其中一些现在也被用于其他大学…更多的是在广岛地区，作为根据学生的熟练程度将学生分组到语言班的手段。(2)我们进一步开发了基于网络的练习和测试的CGI程序，按照所谓的按需练习的原则。学习者不仅可以设置练习的数量，还可以选择他们想要学习的项目和问题，如语法中的动词变化或交际功能中的“表达满意”。通过这项服务，学生和老师还可以从拥有大量习题的数据库中生成定制的基于Web的习题。该系统提供了多种多项选择和填空练习类型，例如需要填写两个空格的练习，这是许多非线性结构(如德语单独动词)所要求的。该系统允许语言教师在线注册进入习题库。他们只需按照说明注册即可。岩崎现在正在这个基于网络的练习系统的框架内建立一个大型练习数据库。较少

(1) In the first year, Iwasaki and Tanaka/Lauer developed basic communicative tests for Japanese university students in, respectively, German and English. In order to write these communicative tests, about 50 basic language functions were selected as anchor points for measuring the communicative abilities of the learners. Functions utilized include offering an apology, requesting assistance, suggesting a course of action, and so on. The language functions were taken from Baldegger, M. / Mueller, M. / Schneider, G. / Naef, A. (1980) : Kontaktschwelle Deutsch als Fremdsprache. and also from Van Ek, J. A. /Trim, J. L. M. (1990) : Threshold 90. In the second year, we implemented these communicative tests, together with other English qualification tests which Tanaka and Lauer had already developed. These tests can be foung on the following Web-site (http://flare.media.hiroshima-u.ac.jp), and can be used as automatic self-evaluation tests. Some of them are now also used in other universities … More in the Hiroshima area as means for grouping students into language classes by their proficiency levels.(2) We, futhermore, developed the CGI program for Web-based exercises and tests according to the principle of so-called "Exercise on Demand". Leaarners can set not only the number of exercises but also select the items and issues that they want to learn, such as verb conjugation in grammar or "expressing satisfaction" in communicative functions. Through this service, students and teachers can also generate custom-made Web-based exercises from the database with a large number of exercises. This system offers a variety of multiple-choice and fill-in exercise types, such as exercises with two spaces to be filled-in, which many non-linear constructions like German separate verbs would require. This system allows language teachers on-line registration into the exercise-database. They only need to follow the instruction for registration. Iwasaki is now building up a large exercise database in the framework of this Web-based exercise system. Less