Measuring minimal proficiency in spoken English

The results of two studies examining spoken English proficiency and performance in the basic course are reported. The goal of these investigations was to determine whether the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) could target speakers needing additional competencies in spoken English before enrolling in the basic oral communication course. The results did not indicate that the SPEAK test is appropriate for this purpose. The results and implications for future research are discussed.

Notes

Robert G. Powell is Associate Professor of Speech Communication at California State University, Los Angeles.