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From http://assessing-speaking.rice.edu/

Assessing Speaking in Context – New Trends
May 4-5
Rice University

Several strands of research on second language acquisition/development have recently focused on the complex environment of interactional dynamics of language use in properly contextualized situations of language use (Brouwer, 2013; Hall, Hellermann & Pekarek Doehler, 2011; Kasper & Wagner, 2014). At the same time, many institutions have begun to integrate those research findings into teaching practices aimed at improving learners’ interactional competence (Barraja-Rohan, 2011; Sert, 2015). Inasmuch as these trends are very promising toward the development of a comprehensive and ecologically valid definition of language use, it is becoming clear that both researchers and teachers need to design assessment materials and procedures that

1. reflect research findings about language use in context,
2. incorporate sound pedagogical practices to prepare learners for those types of assessment, and
3. can be implemented considering the obvious logistical challenges of such an ambitious pedagogical and assessment task.

Visit the conference website at http://assessing-speaking.rice.edu/