This is an interesting discussion by Hilary Smith about the proposal to legislate "official language" status to English in New Zealand. She draws attention to debates about English language test scores, calling for a "proper national language policy".
theconversation.com/the-debate-n...
The recently introduced English Language Bill will change little, but highlights a deeper issue. NZ still lacks a coherent framework for language policy.
New Zealand conservatives copying the US move to designate English as an "official language". Totally unnecessary, but suggesting that that status of English might be vulnerable is an effective populist move that rouses fear and linguicism.
www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
ILTA Guidelines for Practice: "basic information about best practice in language assessment to promote fair, valid and transparent uses of language assessments". Includes standardized tests and learning-oriented assessment practices. www.iltaonline.com/page/ILTAGui...
Concordance studies link scores on one test to scores on another. They provide an empirical basis for score equivalence tables, but they do have limitations🚧, e.g., similarity of test constructs, population used, number of test takers at each score level, length of scales.
Image: Mediamodifier
The timeline for the projects discussed in this book roughly maps onto my time with @corpussocialsci.bsky.social and will stand proudly on my bookshelf.
Was fun to write, too.
www.cambridge.org/core/books/a...
Colourless green vegetative electron microscopy ideas sleep furiously.
Once errors creep into the AI knowledge base, they can be very hard to get out.
Submit your proposal for ALTAANZ 2025: Balancing innovation and tradition in language assessment
Online Conference, 11-13 November 2025
Submission deadline: 30 April
Submission portal: www.altaanz.org/call-for-pro...
Funded PhD opportunity at Lancaster:
'The sharing of personal lived experience by peer support workers working in mental health services in NHS, social care and third sector organisations.'
Open to applicants with a background in Linguistics as well as Psychology
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Thank you ALANZ - We look forward to hearing more about ALANZ 2025. The ALTAANZ separate conference this year will be held online 11-13 November 2025, so no need to travel!
A great post-doc opportunity in GP education and healthcare communication: jobs.unimelb.edu.au/caw/en/job/9...
A-Irony: AI developer gets upset when other AI developer steals their IP
#LanguageTesting’s Jan 2025 issue is now out. Read what has been happening behind the schemes in my Editorial w/Xun Yan. A highlight of the issue: a tribute to Tim McNamara & reflections on his work by John Pill, @kelliefrost.bsky.social & @susymacqueen.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/toc/ltja/42/1
