Assessment of Spoken English

Emphasis on the spoken word in our English programmes has strengthened considerably over the last decade. The National English Syllabus Committee reflects the change by recommending that more attention be given to the teaching and evaluation of speaking skills. Although much research has been undertaken to clarify problems of reliability in assessing written English, little is known about the technical aspects of assessing spoken English. Some work has been undertaken by Hitchman and Wilkinson in England, and by Pountney in New Zealand, but many problems remain unsolved.