Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-174) and index.

"Language testing reconsidered provides a critical update on major issues that have engaged the field of language testing since its inception. Anyone who is working in, studying or teaching language testing should have a copy of this book. The information, discussions, and reflections offered within the volume address major developments within the field over the past decades, enlivened by current "takes" on these issues. The real value of this collection, however, lies in its consideration of the past as a means of defining the future agenda of language testing. This collection of essays could not have been brought together earlier; the field was due for this." (Book Cover)

CONTENTS:

Introduction / Janna Fox

SECTION I WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO KNOW A LANGUAGE ? The International Language Testing Association (ILTA) ; The UCLES/ILTA Lifetime Achievement Award

1. On Second Thoughts / Bernard Spolsky

SECTION II WHAT ARE WE MEASURING?

2. The Challenge of (Diagnostic) Testing: Do We Know What We Are Measuring ? / J. Charles Alderson

3. What Is the Construct? The Dialectic of Abilities and Contexts in Defining Constructs in Language Assessment / Lyle F. Bachman

4. Assessing Academic English Language Proficiency: 40+ years of U.K. Language Tests / Alan Davies

SECTION III LANGUAGE TESTING RESEARCH: POINTS OF DEPARTURE

5. The Coming of Age for Research on Test-Taking Strategies / Andrew D. Cohen

6. Qualitative Research Methods in Language Test Development and Validation / Anne Lazaraton and Lynda Taylor

7. Language Testing : A Question of Context / Tim McNamara

SECTION IV ANTECEDENTS AND PROSPECTS

8. Tests as Power Tools: Looking Back, Looking Forward / Elana Shohamy

The Goals of ILTA

Language Testing Research Colloquia (LTRC), 1979-2007

Notes on Contributors

References

Index