From Face-to-Face to Paired Oral Proficiency Interviews: The Nut is Yet to be Cracked

Parviz Birjandi,Marzieh Bagherkazemi

doi:10.5539/elt.v4n2p169

Abstract

The pressing need for English oral communication skills in multifarious contexts today is compelling impetus behind the large number of studies done on oral proficiency interviewing. Moreover, given the recently articulated concerns with the fairness and social dimension of such interviews, parallel concerns have been raised as to how most fairly to assess the oral communication skills of examinees, and what factors contribute to more skilled performance. This article sketches theory and practice on two rather competing formats of oral proficiency interviewing: face-to-face and paired. In the first place, it reviews the related literature on the alleged disadvantages of the individual format. Then, the pros and cons of the paired format are enumerated. It is discussed that the paired format has indeed met some of the criticisms leveled at individual oral proficiency interviewing. However, exploitation of the paired format as an undisputable alternative to the face-to-face format begs the question.

Highlights

Fairness in assessment in general and language assessment in particular can be of substantive concern to both assessors and those who are assessed once the vitality of immediate and far reaching consequences of assessment acts is brought to light
Outlining consensus and controversy over the use of individual and paired modes of oral proficiency interviewing, the present article chimes with calls for ‘critical language testing’, i.e. taking a critical stance toward language assessment procedures and measures
Given the fact that “today, Oral proficiency interview (OPI) are used by academic institutions, government agencies, and private corporations for many purposes: academic placement, student assessment, program evaluation, professional certification, hiring, and promotional qualification” (Swender, 2008, p.520), the stakes involved in them are very high

Summary

Introduction

Fairness in assessment in general and language assessment in particular can be of substantive concern to both assessors and those who are assessed once the vitality of immediate and far reaching consequences of assessment acts is brought to light. Techniques to assess spoken language skills run the gamut from reading aloud through picture description to oral proficiency interviews (OPI) or face-to face interaction. Among different modes of OPI, the choice over the individual or face-to-face format- wherein an interviewer or examiner engages in an interview or conversation with an examinee- and the paired format- wherein two examinees orally interact with each other in the presence of two examiners - has long been a matter of hot debate. The paired format has followed and overtaken the individual mode and forms the sole or part of OPIs employed in most international tests of English language proficiency, including University of Cambridge ESOL examinations. The present study provides a general layout of both formats, and outlines several controversial issues haunting the paired format which have unquestionably passed the scrutiny of the oral proficiency assessment scholars

Oral proficiency interviewing: A brief historical overview

The individual or face-to-face format

The paired format

Advantages of the paired OPI format

Issues in the paired OPI format

Conclusion