LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese

I Lei Chan; Charles B. Chang

LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese

I Lei Chan
, Charles B. Chang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

Research in second language acquisition suggests that objective performance-based assessments may provide more reliable and valid measures of second language proficiency than subjective self-ratings. To measure proficiency in English as a second language, a quick, vocabulary-based test called LexTALE (Lexical Test for Advanced Learners of English) was developed and shown to be able to differentiate between various levels of English proficiency. Following in the line of adaptations of this test for other languages, we created a character-based adaptation for Mandarin Chinese: LEXTALE_CH. In this paper, we discuss the development and validation of LEXTALE_CH in detail. In short, LEXTALE_CH can discriminate between high and low levels of Mandarin proficiency and is sensitive to the significant differences in vocabulary size between native speakers and second language learners of Mandarin; further, it takes only a few minutes to administer and is simple to score, making it a practical tool for low-stakes estimation of Mandarin proficiency. © 2018 I Lei Chan and Charles B. Chang.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development
Editors	Anne B. Bertolini, Maxwell J. Kaplan
Place of Publication	Somerville, MA
Publisher	Cascadilla Press
Pages	114–130
Number of pages	17
Volume	1
ISBN (Print)	978-1-57473-186-6, 978-1-57473-086-9
Publication status	Published - 2018
Externally published	Yes
Event	42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 42) - Boston University, Boston, United States Duration: 3 Nov 2017 → 5 Nov 2017 Conference number: 42

Publication series

Name	BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development
ISSN (Print)	1080-692X

Conference

Conference	42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 42)
Abbreviated title	BUCLD
Place	United States
City	Boston
Period	3/11/17 → 5/11/17

Funding

We would like to thank the BU Center for the Humanities for funding, the audience at BUCLD 42 for helpful comments, and all study participants.

Research Keywords

Mandarin Chinese
second language acquisition
proficiency
Language assessment
lexicon
vocabulary

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Chan, I. L., & Chang, C. B. (2018). LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese. In A. B. Bertolini, & M. J. Kaplan (Eds.), BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (Vol. 1, pp. 114–130). (BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development). Cascadilla Press. https://www.cascadilla.com/bucld42toc.html

Chan, I Lei ; Chang, Charles B. / LEXTALE_CH : A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese. BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development. editor / Anne B. Bertolini ; Maxwell J. Kaplan. Vol. 1 Somerville, MA : Cascadilla Press, 2018. pp. 114–130 (BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development).

@inproceedings{8303d669bdbe4f0ea82a122947e65876,

title = "LEXTALE\_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese",

abstract = "Research in second language acquisition suggests that objective performance-based assessments may provide more reliable and valid measures of second language proficiency than subjective self-ratings. To measure proficiency in English as a second language, a quick, vocabulary-based test called LexTALE (Lexical Test for Advanced Learners of English) was developed and shown to be able to differentiate between various levels of English proficiency. Following in the line of adaptations of this test for other languages, we created a character-based adaptation for Mandarin Chinese: LEXTALE\_CH. In this paper, we discuss the development and validation of LEXTALE\_CH in detail. In short, LEXTALE\_CH can discriminate between high and low levels of Mandarin proficiency and is sensitive to the significant differences in vocabulary size between native speakers and second language learners of Mandarin; further, it takes only a few minutes to administer and is simple to score, making it a practical tool for low-stakes estimation of Mandarin proficiency. {\textcopyright} 2018 I Lei Chan and Charles B. Chang. ",

keywords = "Mandarin Chinese, second language acquisition, proficiency, Language assessment, lexicon, vocabulary",

author = "Chan, \{I Lei\} and Chang, \{Charles B.\}",

year = "2018",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-1-57473-186-6",

volume = "1",

series = "BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development",

publisher = "Cascadilla Press",

pages = "114–130",

editor = "Bertolini, \{Anne B.\} and Kaplan, \{Maxwell J.\}",

booktitle = "BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development",

note = "42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 42) , BUCLD ; Conference date: 03-11-2017 Through 05-11-2017",

}

Chan, IL & Chang, CB 2018, LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese. in AB Bertolini & MJ Kaplan (eds), BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development. vol. 1, BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development, Cascadilla Press, Somerville, MA, pp. 114–130, 42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 42) , Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 3/11/17. <https://www.cascadilla.com/bucld42toc.html>

LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese. / Chan, I Lei; Chang, Charles B.
BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development. ed. / Anne B. Bertolini; Maxwell J. Kaplan. Vol. 1 Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press, 2018. p. 114–130 (BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development).

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - LEXTALE_CH

T2 - 42nd Annual Boston University Conference on Language Development (BUCLD 42)

AU - Chan, I Lei

AU - Chang, Charles B.

N1 - Conference code: 42

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Research in second language acquisition suggests that objective performance-based assessments may provide more reliable and valid measures of second language proficiency than subjective self-ratings. To measure proficiency in English as a second language, a quick, vocabulary-based test called LexTALE (Lexical Test for Advanced Learners of English) was developed and shown to be able to differentiate between various levels of English proficiency. Following in the line of adaptations of this test for other languages, we created a character-based adaptation for Mandarin Chinese: LEXTALE_CH. In this paper, we discuss the development and validation of LEXTALE_CH in detail. In short, LEXTALE_CH can discriminate between high and low levels of Mandarin proficiency and is sensitive to the significant differences in vocabulary size between native speakers and second language learners of Mandarin; further, it takes only a few minutes to administer and is simple to score, making it a practical tool for low-stakes estimation of Mandarin proficiency. © 2018 I Lei Chan and Charles B. Chang.

AB - Research in second language acquisition suggests that objective performance-based assessments may provide more reliable and valid measures of second language proficiency than subjective self-ratings. To measure proficiency in English as a second language, a quick, vocabulary-based test called LexTALE (Lexical Test for Advanced Learners of English) was developed and shown to be able to differentiate between various levels of English proficiency. Following in the line of adaptations of this test for other languages, we created a character-based adaptation for Mandarin Chinese: LEXTALE_CH. In this paper, we discuss the development and validation of LEXTALE_CH in detail. In short, LEXTALE_CH can discriminate between high and low levels of Mandarin proficiency and is sensitive to the significant differences in vocabulary size between native speakers and second language learners of Mandarin; further, it takes only a few minutes to administer and is simple to score, making it a practical tool for low-stakes estimation of Mandarin proficiency. © 2018 I Lei Chan and Charles B. Chang.

KW - Mandarin Chinese

KW - second language acquisition

KW - proficiency

KW - Language assessment

KW - lexicon

KW - vocabulary

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 978-1-57473-186-6

SN - 978-1-57473-086-9

VL - 1

T3 - BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development

SP - 114

EP - 130

BT - BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development

A2 - Bertolini, Anne B.

A2 - Kaplan, Maxwell J.

PB - Cascadilla Press

CY - Somerville, MA

Y2 - 3 November 2017 through 5 November 2017

ER -

Chan IL, Chang CB. LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese. In Bertolini AB, Kaplan MJ, editors, BUCLD 42: Proceedings of the 42nd annual Boston University Conference on Language Development. Vol. 1. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press. 2018. p. 114–130. (BUCLD: Proceedings of the Boston University Conference on Language Development).

LEXTALE_CH: A quick, character-based proficiency test for Mandarin Chinese

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Funding

Research Keywords

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