Journal of English Language Teaching

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR): Implications for Language Testing

Dr. Vijay Makwana

Humanities and Social Sciences Department, Indukaka Ipcowala Institute of Management (IIIM), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Charotar University of Science and Technology (CHARUSAT), Changa (Anand), Gujarat, India.

Keywords: CEFR, Evaluation, Language Assessment, Language Testing

---

Abstract

Language is infinite. This feature of language poses a challenge for an ESL teacher to gauge the proficiency level of ESL learners. As a matter of fact, what we test and how we test language learners’ proficiency is always a complex conundrum. This makes language assessment a daunting task for an ESL teacher. This paper gives insights into fallacies of language assessment and provides strategies to make language assessment more objective, reliable, and uniform. The paper advocates the CEFR apparatus for language assessment. It is an internationally acclaimed framework for teaching and assessment, and all important examinations are mapped to the CEFR. The new approach of using the CEFR apparatus for language testing in this paper is highly pragmatic and attempts to make language testing a more standardised process. This proposed new approach to language assessment focuses on skills rather than just accuracy. It shifts the focus of language assessment from mere accuracy to comprehensive communicative competence of the ESL learners.

---

References

Berry, Vivien and Barry O’Sullivan. “CEFR and Language Assessment.” n.d. British Council. <https://www.britishcouncil.org/exam/aptis/research/assessment-literacy>.

Coombe, C., et al. Cambridge guide to second language assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012. pp. 321.

Council of Europe. Council for Cultural Cooperation. Education Committee. Modern Languages Division. Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment. Cambridge University Press, 2001.

English, Cambridge. “International language standards.” Cambridge English language assessment (2017).

Jones, Neil, and Nick Saville. “European language policy: Assessment, learning, and the CEFR.” Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 29 (2009): 51-63.

Little, David. “The Common European Framework and the European Language Portfolio: Involving learners and their judgements in the assessment process.” Language Testing, 22.3 (2005): 321-336.

O’Sullivan, Barry. “Assessment issues in languages for specific purposes.” The Modern Language Journal, 96 (2012): 7188.

Using the CEFR: Principles of Good Practice. October 2011. University of Cambridge. <https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/Images/126011-using-cefr-principles-of-goodpractice.pdf>.