TEASIG -in-person PCE: Putting the learner at the heart of assessment

Join the IATEFL Testing Evaluation & Assessment Special Interest Group for their 2025 in person Pre-Conference Event on 7 April: Putting the learner at the heart of assessment

In an era of rapidly evolving educational paradigms, the focus on learner-centred assessment has never been more critical. This event, ‘Putting the learner at the heart of assessment’, aims to explore interesting and practical approaches for designing assessments that prioritise the needs, strengths, and experiences of learners.

One recent shift has been the adoption of principles ensuring that assessments are accessible and equitable for all learners, including those with specific needs. In addition, integrating principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) help create a fair and supportive assessment environment for every student.

In parallel, enhancing test taker experience became an equally important consideration in an increasingly competitive language education and testing market. This involves not only improving the design and delivery of assessments but also actively responding to test takers’ feedback and preferences. By incorporating these insights, educators and assessment organisations can refine their approaches to better support learner success and meet their own growth objectives.

Our event will consist of workshops and presentations highlighting practical strategies for putting the learner at the heart of language assessment, ultimately fostering a more personalised, responsive, inclusive, and effective assessment landscape. 

Click on the image below to see our programme in detail:

Speakers:

Dr Chihiro Inoue is an Associate Professor of Language Assessment at the University of Bedfordshire. She holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies and a PhD in Language Testing from Lancaster University. With extensive experience teaching English to ESOL learners at both secondary and tertiary levels in Japan, Dr. Inoue has also worked in various roles focused on the practical aspects of language testing. Her current research primarily explores test task design, examining how task features interact with learner characteristics and how tests can better accommodate diverse learner needs.

Anna Soltyska is a member of the academic staff at Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany, where she teaches English for General and Specific Academic Purposes and coordinates the English programme at the University Language Centre. Her current research interests include teaching and testing of languages for academic and specific purposes, the impact of AI-based tools on institutionalised foreign language learning and assessment, promoting multilingualism in higher education and various aspects of assessment-related malpractice and academic integrity. Anna is a member of IATEFL and has been a TEASIG webinar co-ordinator since April 2020. 

Dr Cecilie Hamnes Carlsen is professor in second language acquisition at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. She holds a PhD in language assessment and has worked for 20 years with the development and validation of language tests for adult migrants in Norway. Her research interests are primarily related to the use and misuse of language tests in the migration context and the social consequences of tests on different test-taker groups. She is currently involved in the IMPECT project focusing on the consequences of language requirements for residence and citizenship on low-literate adult migrants. She is an expert member of ALTE, co-chair of the ALTE LAMI sig, and chair of the ALTE Social Justice Discussion Group.

Catherine Hughes is an EFL testing and assessment professional with 25 years’ experience working in a variety of contexts within and outside the UK. She holds an MA with Distinction in Language Testing from Lancaster University and a Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults (DELTA). In her current role as Technical Content Manager at Trinity College London, Catherine has played an integral role in revising Trinity College London’s ESOL Skills for Life exam suite in line with best practice in language assessment and real-world needs of the target test-taker population. She also manages content creation for test items for multiple Trinity qualifications, ensuring that test items are accessible and appropriate for test takers from different backgrounds and cultures.

Event details