Protocol to design a CEFR-linked proficiency rating scale for oral production and app implementation

Abstract

Since 201O, it is compulsory for students at Andalusian public universities to certify a minimum leve} of proficiency in a foreign language by the end of their degree. The University of Jaén (UJA) started to develop its own language proficiency tests in 2011 to provide its students with the possibility of taking such tests. This doctoral dissertation describes the process of design (based on the Common European Framework of Reference ) and validation (through logistic parametric Rasch models) of one analytic scale (or rubric) to be used during the mentioned proficiency tests. This process (carried out with the collaboration of 8 evaluation experts from different Andalusian universities and 128 candidates) has also yielded a protocol to design rubrics which can be applied in different contexts. The doctoral dissertation finally describes the design of a digital application for mobile devices to implement the aforementioned rubrics.