Skopje 5 7 Sept 2017 STANAG 6001 Testing

Skopje, 5 -7 Sept. 2017 STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop 1

Skopje, 5 -7 Sept. 2017 STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop BILC Update Emilija Nesheva, BILC Secretary 2

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BILC events and courses • • • Annual Conference (May) STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop (September) Professional Seminar (October) Testing Seminars Faculty Development Workshops 4

2016 BILC Professional Seminar, Budapest, Hungary, 23 -28 October • Theme: Authenticity in training and testing: making it real • Topics - Linking training and testing to real-world target language use Traditional textbooks versus authentic materials Co-operating/partnering with local universities Attaining concordance between linguistic objectives and training outcomes Benefitting from tele-collaboration between training establishments Using social media in training Teaching and learning as two sides of the same coin Language maintenance 5

2017 BILC Conference Vienna, Austria, 14 -19 May • • Theme: Recognizing and Navigating the Specific Dynamics of Military Language Training Sub-topics: - Classroom behavior in the context of military culture - Navigating between mixed cultures in the classroom - Different profiles of language learners and their impact on learning success - Classroom culture - turning over-achievers into role-models - Fostering foreign culture acquisition - Accommodating students with special needs (i. e. , learning disabilities, service related injuries, PTSD) - Enhancing student success in mastering higher proficiency levels - Pedagogy employed in building student autonomy - English for Specific Purposes in a military environment • Study Groups Topics: - Activities for building cultural mastery blocks - Best practices and challenges in teaching security and military related terminology - Military assistance with the language problems related to the migrant crisis - Best practices in STANAG 6001 testing - Harmonizing the dynamics of military leadership and civilian faculty in language programs 6

Why Have Annual STANAG 6001 Testing Workshops? • Need for periodic renorming / standardization • Chance to update approaches and knowledge of proficiency testing • Forum for exchanging ideas / lessons learned

BILC STANAG 6001 Testing Workshops • Zagreb, 2009 – Focus on standardization, moderation and validation • Sarajevo, 2010 – Focus on testing speaking • Stockholm, 2011 – Focus on testing writing • Copenhagen, 2012 – Focus on testing listening • SHAPE Mons, 2013 – Focus on integrating test development stages • Reichenau, 2014 – Focus on item development practices • Vilnius, 2015 - Challenges in STANAG 6001 testing • Brno, 2016 - Testing the test – how valid is our validity argument?

2016 BILC STANAG Testing Workshop Brno, Czech Republic, 6 -9 September Theme: TESTING THE TEST – HOW VALID IS OUR VALIDITY ARGUMENT? Sub-themes: • Qualitative versus quantitative analysis • Piloting challenges • Test validation partnerships • Think aloud protocols • Data analysis tools • Consequential validity • Modified Angoff procedure and its place in the validation process • Use of validation procedures to inform training 43 participants from 23 countries + 1 representative of NATO HQ SHAPE 9

Testing Seminars Hosted by the Partner Language Training Center Europe (PLTCE), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany • Language Testing Seminar ‒ 2 weeks ‒ Twice a year • Advanced Language Testing Seminar – 3 weeks – Once a year • Language Standards & Assessment Seminar – 2 weeks – Twice a year

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BILC site https: //www. natobilc. org 13

Questions? BILC e-mail address: chairman@natobilc. org my e-mail address: e. nesheva@mod. bg 14