''This volume describes 20 years of work at Cambridge English to develop multilingual assessment frameworks and present useful guidance of good practice. It covers work on the ALTE Framework and Can Do project, the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) and the linking of the Cambridge English exam levels to it, Asset Language - a major educational initiative for UK schools,and the European Survey on Language Competences, co-ordinated by Cambridge English for the European Commission. It proposes a model for the validity of assessment within a multilingual framework and, while illustrating the constraints which determined the approach taken to each project, makes clear recommendations on methodological good practice. It also explores and looks forward to the further extension of assessment frameworks to encompass a model for multilingual education.

Key feature of the book includes:
a clear and comprehensive explanation of several major multilingual projects
combination of theoretical insights and practical advice
discussion of the interpretation and use of the CEFR.

Multilingual Frameworks is a rich source of information on key issues in the development and use of multilingual proficiency frameworks. As such, it will be a valuable reference work for academics, education policy-makers and examination board personnel. It is also a useful resource for postgraduate students of language assessment and for practitioners, and any stakeholders seeking to gain a clearer picture of the issues involved with cross-language assessment frameworks.'' (Book Cover)

CONTENTS

List of tables and figures

Acknowledgements

Series Editors' note

Abbreviations

1. Multilingual frameworks: A practical pursuit

2. Constructing a multilingual framework
2.1 Construct a definition
2.2 Scale construction
2.3 Alignment across skills, languages and contexts
2.4 Standard setting
2.5 Validity and validation
2.6 Summary

3. Scaling comes to Cambridge ESOL: The 1990s
3.1 Early scaling developments
3.2 Computer-adaptive testing
3.3 The Cambridge ESOL Common Scale
3.4 The ALTE Framework and Can Do project
3.5 Conclusions: A pioneering age

4. A universal standard? The Common European Framework of Reference
4.1 Origins of the CEFR
4.2 The CEFR and Cambridge English
4.3 The CEFR as a measurement construct
4.4 The contribution of assessment to the CEFR
4.5 Conclusions: Taking to the CEFR forward

5. Asset language: A formative framework for language learning
5.1 The origins of Asset Languages
5.2 Designing the Asset Language framework
5.3 Development of the external assessment: Pilot phase
5.4 Developing the scheme 2005-08
5.5 Research around Asset Languages

5.6 Teacher Assessment: Les formal accreditation of learning
5.7 Conclusions: The lesson of Asset Languages

6. The European Survey on Language Compentences: Informing language policy
6.1 The significance of the survey for Cambridge English
6.2 Background to the survey
6.3 The tender: Language tests and the CEFR
6.4 Language test development
6.5 Questionnaire development
6.6 Sampling
6.7 Standard setting
6.8 Outcomes of the European Survey on Language Competences
6.9 Conclusions: How to interpret the European Survey on Language Competences

7 Frameworks for the future
7.1 Frameworks so far
7.2 Beyond the CEFR: A framework for language education
7.3 Engagement in education: Impact studies and the ESLC
7.4 Learning Oriented Assessment
7.5 In conclusion

Appendices
Appendix A: CEFR Common Reference Levels: Qualitative aspects of spoken language use
Appendix B: Sample illustrative descriptors -- ALTE Can Do project: Example statements -- Cambridge ESOL Common Scale for writing -- Cambridge ESOL Common Scale for speaking
Appendix C: Asset Languages -- Example Languages Ladder statements (Listening) -- Sample generic specifications for Breakthrough, Preliminary, and Intermediate stages

Asset Languages: The final list of languages offered from September 2008
Appendix D: The European Survey on Language Competences -- Task types: A complete list -- Illustrations of CEFR levels: Writing

References

Author index

Subject index