Korean language assessment

Abstract

This chapter provides a comprehensive account of vital issues in Korean language assessment, and outlines and exemplifies the basic approaches to and practices of test development of Korean language assessment. In Korean as a Foreign Language (KFL) language assessment contexts, the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), the Korean Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Subject Test, and the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) are the most commonly used large-scale standardized proficiency tests of Korean. Given the high-stakes decisions based on test scores, these existing Korean proficiency tests are likely to exercise considerable influence over the Korean language curriculum, and it is worth exploring various aspects of these proficiency tests. This chapter also deals with key issues of developing and using classroom-based language assessments in a KFL context, along with necessary steps and practical tips for constructing more meaningful Korean language achievement tes ts. Additionally, the evolving and increasing uses of alternative language assessments in a foreign language teaching setting, such as self-assessment, E-portfolios, and interactive role-plays are discussed in this chapter.