Skopje, 5-7 Sept. 2017 STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop

Skopje, 5-7 Sept. 2017 STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop BILC Update Emilija Nesheva, BILC Secretary

BILC events and courses Annual Conference (May) STANAG 6001 Testing Workshop (September) Professional Seminar (October) Testing Seminars Faculty Development Workshops

2016 BILC Professional Seminar, Budapest, Hungary, 23-28 October Theme: Authenticity in training and testing: making it real Topics Linking training and testing to real-world target language use Traditional textbooks versus authentic materials Co-operating/partnering with local universities Attaining concordance between linguistic objectives and training outcomes Benefitting from tele-collaboration between training establishments Using social media in training Teaching and learning as two sides of the same coin Language maintenance

2017 BILC Conference Vienna, Austria, 14-19 May Theme: Recognizing and Navigating the Specific Dynamics of Military Language Training Sub-topics: - Classroom behavior in the context of military culture - Navigating between mixed cultures in the classroom - Different profiles of language learners and their impact on learning success - Classroom culture - turning over-achievers into role-models - Fostering foreign culture acquisition - Accommodating students with special needs (i.e., learning disabilities, service related injuries, PTSD) - Enhancing student success in mastering higher proficiency levels - Pedagogy employed in building student autonomy - English for Specific Purposes in a military environment Study Groups Topics: - Activities for building cultural mastery blocks - Best practices and challenges in teaching security and military related terminology - Military assistance with the language problems related to the migrant crisis - Best practices in STANAG 6001 testing - Harmonizing the dynamics of military leadership and civilian faculty in language programs

Why Have Annual STANAG 6001 Testing Workshops? Need for periodic renorming / standardization Chance to update approaches and knowledge of proficiency testing Forum for exchanging ideas / lessons learned

BILC STANAG 6001 Testing Workshops Zagreb, 2009 Focus on standardization, moderation and validation Sarajevo, 2010 Focus on testing speaking Stockholm, 2011 Focus on testing writing Copenhagen, 2012 Focus on testing listening SHAPE Mons, 2013 Focus on integrating test development stages Reichenau, 2014 Focus on item development practices Vilnius, 2015 - Challenges in STANAG 6001 testing Brno, 2016 - Testing the test – how valid is our validity argument?

2016 BILC STANAG Testing Workshop Brno, Czech Republic, 6-9 September Theme: TESTING THE TEST – HOW VALID IS OUR VALIDITY ARGUMENT?  Sub-themes: Qualitative versus quantitative analysis Piloting challenges Test validation partnerships Think aloud protocols Data analysis tools Consequential validity Modified Angoff procedure and its place in the validation process Use of validation procedures to inform training 43 participants from 23 countries + 1 representative of NATO HQ SHAPE

Testing Seminars Hosted by the Partner Language Training Center Europe (PLTCE), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany Language Testing Seminar 2 weeks Twice a year Advanced Language Testing Seminar 3 weeks Once a year Language Standards & Assessment Seminar

BILC site https://www.natobilc.org

BILC e-mail address: chairman@natobilc.org Questions? BILC e-mail address: chairman@natobilc.org my e-mail address: e.nesheva@mod.bg