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Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) describes the capability of learners’ language skills at six reference levels. It is internationally recognised as the standard language proficiency framework for describing language learning, teaching and assessment. Many countries, including Malays...

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Main Authors: Baharum, Nurul Najwa, Ismail, Lilliati, Nordin, Nooreen, Razali, Abu Bakar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/1/09%20JSSH%28S%29-1518-2021.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/
http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/special-issue?article=JSSH(S)-516-2021
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spelling my.upm.eprints.926032022-05-27T22:49:39Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/ Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia Baharum, Nurul Najwa Ismail, Lilliati Nordin, Nooreen Razali, Abu Bakar The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) describes the capability of learners’ language skills at six reference levels. It is internationally recognised as the standard language proficiency framework for describing language learning, teaching and assessment. Many countries, including Malaysia, have attempted and invested tremendous efforts to adopt the CEFR as a reference for language ability at all levels of education. However, there are many ways of adopting CEFR, and it is a continuous process of alignment between curriculum and assessment. In this regard, this study is carried out to examine how a Malaysian university attempts to demonstrate this alignment by correlating the scores obtained from English language proficiency courses in the university, called the English Language Competence Score Average (ELCSA), to a CEFR-aligned English language proficiency test (Linguaskill). The results showed an overall significant positive correlation that varied in strength. The overall correlation was 0.371, a positive but weak correlation whereby the strongest correlation was seen between ELCSA and CEFR Writing score with a correlation of 0.417, which is positive and moderate in strength. Therefore, it could be identified that a score of 3.25 and 3.5 on the ELCSA can be considered equivalent to a Linguaskill score of 160 (CEFR Band B2). It could be considered that the B2 CEFR level could be subdivided into lower and higher B2. However, there is a need to correlate ELCSA with other CEFR-aligned tests and perform further revisions to the English language proficiency programme at the university to successfully benchmark the programme and its assessment tool, ELCSA, with the CEFR. Universiti Putra Malaysia Press 2021 Article PeerReviewed text en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/1/09%20JSSH%28S%29-1518-2021.pdf Baharum, Nurul Najwa and Ismail, Lilliati and Nordin, Nooreen and Razali, Abu Bakar (2021) Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, 29 (spec.3). pp. 157-178. ISSN 0128-7702; ESSN: 2231-8534 http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/special-issue?article=JSSH(S)-516-2021 10.47836/pjssh.29.S3.09
institution Universiti Putra Malaysia
building UPM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Putra Malaysia
content_source UPM Institutional Repository
url_provider http://psasir.upm.edu.my/
language English
description The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) describes the capability of learners’ language skills at six reference levels. It is internationally recognised as the standard language proficiency framework for describing language learning, teaching and assessment. Many countries, including Malaysia, have attempted and invested tremendous efforts to adopt the CEFR as a reference for language ability at all levels of education. However, there are many ways of adopting CEFR, and it is a continuous process of alignment between curriculum and assessment. In this regard, this study is carried out to examine how a Malaysian university attempts to demonstrate this alignment by correlating the scores obtained from English language proficiency courses in the university, called the English Language Competence Score Average (ELCSA), to a CEFR-aligned English language proficiency test (Linguaskill). The results showed an overall significant positive correlation that varied in strength. The overall correlation was 0.371, a positive but weak correlation whereby the strongest correlation was seen between ELCSA and CEFR Writing score with a correlation of 0.417, which is positive and moderate in strength. Therefore, it could be identified that a score of 3.25 and 3.5 on the ELCSA can be considered equivalent to a Linguaskill score of 160 (CEFR Band B2). It could be considered that the B2 CEFR level could be subdivided into lower and higher B2. However, there is a need to correlate ELCSA with other CEFR-aligned tests and perform further revisions to the English language proficiency programme at the university to successfully benchmark the programme and its assessment tool, ELCSA, with the CEFR.
format Article
author Baharum, Nurul Najwa
Ismail, Lilliati
Nordin, Nooreen
Razali, Abu Bakar
spellingShingle Baharum, Nurul Najwa
Ismail, Lilliati
Nordin, Nooreen
Razali, Abu Bakar
Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
author_facet Baharum, Nurul Najwa
Ismail, Lilliati
Nordin, Nooreen
Razali, Abu Bakar
author_sort Baharum, Nurul Najwa
title Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
title_short Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
title_full Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
title_fullStr Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Aligning a University English Language Proficiency measurement tool with the CEFR: a case in Malaysia
title_sort aligning a university english language proficiency measurement tool with the cefr: a case in malaysia
publisher Universiti Putra Malaysia Press
publishDate 2021
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/1/09%20JSSH%28S%29-1518-2021.pdf
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/92603/
http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/pjssh/browse/special-issue?article=JSSH(S)-516-2021
_version_ 1734301649548083200
score 13.211869

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