2008 National Assessment of French in Primary Education in Flanders

In 2008 a national assessment was carried out, which was commissioned by the Flemish government, to assess whether pupils have sufficient skills to listen, read, write and speak in French at the end of primary education. Data were collected through four written tests: a listening test, a reading test, a test "handling a glossary" and a writing test. A representative sample of 3076 pupils from 110 Flemish primary schools participated. Speaking skills were assessed by means of a speaking test, administered to a subsample of 727 pupils. Tests were supplemented with background questionnaires for pupils, parents and teachers. The pupil questionnaire asked, among other things, about home language, reading culture and French classes. The parent questionnaire collected information on their child, family background and attitudes toward the use of the French language. Teachers were asked about their teaching experience, classroom practices and students. The response rates to these questionnaires were 98% for the parent and teacher questionnaire.