This handbook provides an introduction to the assessment of speaking ability.
It is aimed at those language teachers who need to learn how to design,
administer or prepare students for tests of speaking ability. The authors
discuss what may influence test takers' oral performance, and describe how to
design test tasks, including guidelines for designing interview questions,
picture description tasks, role plays and discussion activities. They stress the
importance of the roles of interlocutor and assessor in speaking assessments,
and the Handbook presents a step-by-step description of the procedures that
should be used in the training of interlocutors and assessors. The Handbook is
accompanied by a DVD that illustrates various speaking activities in different
examination modes (individual vs. paired exams). In addition, it includes a
selection of benchmarked performances representing different levels on the
Common European Framework, which have been assessed by a group of experts. The
experts' comments are included in the Handbook. Language teachers who are
required to design test tasks and administer speaking examinations will find the
Handbook an indispensable guide to assessing EFL learners' oral language ability
in both classroom and exam situations.