Why is there a need for a European Association for Language Testing and Assessment? Charles Alderson, Lancaster University, Coordinator of ENLTA

The need ILTA ALTE Examination Reform CoE: CEF & ELP EU: BI Item Bank and Dutch projects ENLTA

EALTA March 2003, Arnhem April 2003 Website and Expressions of Interest list Draft Mission Statements, Aims and Objectives, etc ENLTA Membership and discussion list

540+ Members Slovenia82 UK51 Hungary43 Greece31 Germany25 Finland24 Spain24 Turkey22

540+ Members Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, FYR Macedonia, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine.

Associate members Australia, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, PR China, Senegal, Thailand, USA

Mission statement The purpose of EALTA is to promote the understanding of theoretical principles of language testing and assessment, and the improvement and sharing of testing and assessment practices throughout Europe.

Aims and objectives To share professional expertise in lta To increase public understanding of lta To promote recognition of lta as a professional discipline throughout Europe To improve lta systems and practice in Europe To provide training in lta To make expertise in lta readily available for the solution of assessment problems To develop links with other groups interested in lta

Activities To hold an annual conference To run an unmoderated Listserv for members To engage in training in lta through a variety of means To maintain a register of experts in lta To organise consultancies and advice to organisations in matters of assessment policy and practice, test development, validation and equivalence, recognition and use of test results and outcomes of assessment procedures