Local Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) Assessments (LoLA)

Assessment in LCTLs can be notoriously difficult due to few (or no) standardized test options or a lack of an alignment with any standardized assessments and the local or customized curriculum. The Local LCTL Assessments (LoLA) project is developing test specifications and test-template kits for online, linear or computer-adaptive LCTL placement and diagnostics. The LoLA project will also train LCTL educators in using the templates to develop and edit test items so that they can continue to refine assessments locally.

Meet the LoLA team!

Project lead: Paula Winke
Dr. Paula Winke is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, & Cultures at Michigan State University and the Director of the MSU Second Language Studies Ph.D. Program. She also teaches in the Master of Arts in TESOL Program. She is an affiliate with the Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (MAFLT) Program. Dr. Winke is also co-editor of the journal Language Testing, with Talia Isaacs, University College London.

Graduate assistant: Elena Gorshkova
Elena Gorshkova is a graduate student in the Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures at Michigan State University. She is working on LoLA project as part of her research assistantship with Center for Language Teaching Advancement. Her research interests include nonverbal behaviors, eye-tracking, formative and summative assessment, in particular, assessment of speaking and listening skills.

Graduate assistant: Yue Yang
Yue Yang is a graduate assistant with the NLRC at MSU. She is involved with projects such as LoLA and LCTL DOORs, outreach projects, as well as handling social media organization and analysis. She has a Bachelors in Linguistics, with two minors in TESOL and Chinese, and is currently pursuing her Masters with the MAFLT program. Her language study strengths are native fluency in Mandarin Chinese and English, and in her free time Yue enjoys dancing and drawing.

Disclaimer: The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.