From the CEEE and
the Clearinghouse on Assessment and Evaluation
Basic Inventory of Natural Languages
Test Name:
| Basic Inventory of Natural Languages |
Publisher:
| CHECpoint Systems, Inc. |
Publication Date:
| 1986 |
Test Type:
| Language Proficiency |
Content:
| Speaking/Listening in L2 |
Language:
| Mult. Lang. - See Ab |
Target Population:
| Multiple Languages - See Abstract |
Grade Level:
| 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 |
Administration Time:
| Untimed/Guidelines |
Standardized:
| Yes |
Purpose:
|
District Evaluation; Language Dominance; Proficiency; Program Exit; Progress
| |
Abstract:
The Basic Inventory of Natural Languages (BINL) is a measure of oral language proficiency in 32 languages for students in grades K-12. It can be used for placement and the determination of language dominance. Test-taking skills are unnecessary for the examinee, since oral language is elicited through the use of large photographic posters. These posters depict scenes from a variety of cultures which can be discussed without reference to cultural specifics. Testing is done individually and takes ten minutes. There are two scoring options: Counting the number of target language words per sentence or calculating a score for linguistic complexity based on a point system. The latter can be done on a computer program if desired. For each grade level, scores are classified as Non-Speaker, Limited-Speaker, Fluent-Speaker, and Proficient-Speaker. Claims of validity are based on theoretical arguments about the nature of language rather than on statistical research. Estimates of reliability are not part of the EAC East collection.
|