Working Towards a Proficiency Scale of Business English Writing: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Working Towards a Proficiency Scale of Business English Writing: A Mixed-Methods Approach
Author: Li Wang
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 175
Release: 2021-09-29
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9811654492

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This book presents an empirical study to develop and validate a proficiency scale of business English writing in the Chinese tertiary context. Through a mixture of intuitive, quantitative and qualitative methods, the book demonstrates how a pool of descriptors are collectively formulated, statistically calibrated and meticulously validated for the establishment of a proficiency scale of business English writing. The writing scale differs in significant ways from the existing language scales, most of which were constructed in English as L1 or L2 contexts and applied to English for General Purposes (EGP) domains. This book also provides important insights into the construct of business English writing as well as the methods for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) proficiency scale development and validation. It is of particular interest to those who work in the area of ESP teaching and assessment.

Assessing the English Language Writing of Chinese Learners of English

Assessing the English Language Writing of Chinese Learners of English
Author: Liz Hamp-Lyons
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2022-05-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 3030927628

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This book focuses on the assessment of English language writing in China mainland, the territories of Hong Kong and Macau, and Taiwan. The first part of the book describes how writing in English has been assessed in Chinese contexts in the past 25 years, and how it continues to be assessed at present. The second part of the book presents reports of work such as formative classroom-based assessment, feedback-based or feedback-led approaches, learning-oriented assessment, portfolios, as well as the important issue of teacher professional development in writing assessment. This two-part division relates to and reflects what has been happening in writing assessment internationally, in the UK from the 1940s, and in the US in the past 25 years. The use of English for international business communication, for international political negotiations and its rapidly increasing use as a medium of instruction in some subject areas has led to a rapid increase in the numbers of Chinese L1 speakers who are learning and being assessed in English. This is often done with an emphasis on reading and writing. The vast majority of assessments of English language writing are done through large-scale direct testing that uses simple prompts/tasks and short writing samples. This book explores best practices in assessing the writing in English of native speakers of Chinese. Assessing the English Language Writing of Chinese Learners of English edited by long-time experts Liz Hamp-Lyons and Yan Jin clearly demonstrates the authors’ collective years of writing and teaching about writing assessment. The book’s 13 chapters, written by recognized experts in assessment of Chinese speakers learning English, represent a wide array of important topics written in reader friendly language and offering evidence for pedagogical practices as well as high-stakes testing of writing. Teachers, researchers, administrators of writing programs in China, and test developers who seek counsel about this population need look no further than to add Assessing the English Language Writing of Chinese Learners of English to their reading list. Deborah Crusan, Wright State University, USA

The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry

The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry
Author: Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 777
Release: 2015-06-04
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0199933634

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Offering a variety of innovative methods and tools, The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date presentation on multi- and mixed-methods research available. Written in clear and concise language by leading scholars in the field, it enhances and disrupts traditional ways of asking and addressing complex research questions. Topics include an overview of theory, paradigms, and scientific inquiry; a guide to conducting a multi- and mixed-methods research study from start to finish; current uses of multi- and mixed-methods research across academic disciplines and research fields; the latest technologies and how they can be incorporated into study design; and a presentation of multiple perspectives on the key remaining debates. Each chapter in the volume is structured to include state-of-the-art research examples that cross a range of disciplines and interdisciplinary research settings. In addition, the Handbook offers multiple quantitative and qualitative theoretical and interdisciplinary visions and praxis. Researchers, faculty, graduate students, and policy makers will appreciate the exceptional, timely, and critical coverage in this Handbook, which deftly addresses the interdisciplinary and complex questions that a diverse set of research communities are facing today.

Mixed Methods Research for TESOL

Mixed Methods Research for TESOL
Author: James Brown
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2014-11-05
Genre: Education
ISBN: 074869806X

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Defining and discussing the relevance of theoretical and practical issues involved in mixed methods research. Covering the basics of research methodology, this textbook shows you how to choose and combine quantitative and qualitative research methods to b

High-Stakes Testing

High-Stakes Testing
Author: David Coniam
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2018-10-24
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9811063583

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This book provides a detailed account of the origin, development, administration, revision and subsequent research findings on the benchmarking initiative from 1996-2016. It presents an overall assessment of the initiative’s impact on major stakeholders, predictions regarding the way forward, and implications for other countries, especially in South East Asia. In addition, the book discusses what the larger global community can learn from Hong Kong’s two-decade experience of conceptualizing and implementing minimum standard language requirements for teachers.

Business English

Business English
Author: Dona J. Young
Publisher:
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2008
Genre: Business writing
ISBN: 9789813151192

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Business English: Writing for the Global Workplace takes the approach that local language has value in informal environments with Business English being the best choice in formal environments. With this text, students will use their local language (or dialect) to become more proficient with Business English. The text achieves this by comparing and contrasting the two language systems, "building a wall" between Business English and local language. Because technology has made the world smaller, the ability to speak and write Business English has never been more important. Just about every job in the marketplace now includes writing e-mail and speaking to people from diverse cultures. This book provides the tools needed for the global workplace. A student who has mastered the principles presented here will have a solid foundation in speaking and writing Business English to people from around the world.

Resources in Education

Resources in Education
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 622
Release: 1992-10
Genre: Education
ISBN:

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Introducing Researching English for Specific Purposes

Introducing Researching English for Specific Purposes
Author: Lindy Woodrow
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 204
Release: 2022-06-30
Genre: Foreign Language Study
ISBN: 1000582590

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Introducing Researching English for Specific Purposes is an accessible and practical guide to research in ESP. It’s for novice researchers, graduate students and for ESP practitioners who want to do some research themselves. The author takes the reader step by step through the stages of research, starting with choosing a topic and reviewing the literature through to writing up research findings. Examples are taken from academic journals and dissertations to highlight aspects of the research process. The book covers the following areas: developing a research project research design theoretical approaches to ESP research choosing a research topic quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods in ESP research validity, reliability and ethics writing up research in ESP The book includes recommendations for further reading and tasks. There is also a glossary and a chapter providing advice, templates and links to useful research sources. Introducing Researching English for Specific Purposes is essential reading for anyone wanting to conduct research in ESP.

Fairness, Justice and Language Assessment

Fairness, Justice and Language Assessment
Author: Tim McNamara
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 272
Release: 2019-02-21
Genre: Study Aids
ISBN: 0194016943

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This book has two goals, each related to the validity of language assessment. The first goal is to explore the difference between fairness and justice in language assessment. The authors distinguish internal and external dimensions of the equitable and just treatment of individuals taking language tests which are used as gatekeeping devices to determine access to education and employment, immigrant status, citizenship, and other rights. The second goal is to show how the extent of test fairness can be demonstrated and improved using the tools of psychometrics, in particular the models collectively known as Rasch measurement. “This book will have an enormous impact on the field of language assessment. Using Rasch analysis models to explore and identify sources of unfairness, the authors make a compelling case for fairness in the design and implementation of language assessment instruments and for justice in the interpretation and use of test results. A real strength of the book is that it guides readers through analytical techniques in an accessible way.” Dan Douglas, Professor Emeritus, Applied Linguistics Program, Iowa State University.