“Personnel delivering [a] test, or interlocutors, play a key role in the testing process and use specific skills. For example, interlocutors ensure that all test-takers are prompted in a fair and consistent manner. The standardized delivery of the test is therefore critical to its reliability and interlocutors should undergo training to that end.”
ICAO policy on language proficiency testing, section 4.1
emery-roberts delivers a one-day intensive workshop to train and develop the techniques necessary for best practice in test delivery. The workshop is for all personnel (operational and linguistic) involved with language proficiency assessment for the ICAO requirements.
In theory, being an interlocutor is straightforward; in reality, it is more complex.
The interlocutor training course
- introduces test delivery using examples of a variety of genuine tests of aviation English
- identifies and analyses best practice in test delivery
- raises awareness of the issues involved in test delivery
- trains the skills necessary to deliver an objective and fair language test
- provides an opportunity to practice language test delivery
- provides monitoring and feedback to enable trainees to reach the highest standards in language test delivery
Trainees are certified by emery-roberts upon successful completion of the course.
For more information on test delivery, see Andy's presentation and paper delivered at the ICAO IALS2 in May 2007
http://www.icao.int/icao/en/anb/meetings/ials2/documentation.html