A new ASTM International standard will provide useful, timely, reliable and reproducible tests of language proficiency for general communication purposes. ASTM F2889, Practice for Assessing Language Proficiency, is the first new standard approved by ASTM International Committee F43 on Language Services and Products. The new standard was developed by Subcommittee F43.04 on Language Testing.

ASTM F2889 describes best practices for the development and use of language tests in the modalities of speaking, listening, reading and writing for assessing ability according to the Federal Interagency Language Roundtable scale.

Dr. Bill Rivers, chief scientist, Integrated Training Solutions, chief linguist, National Language Service Corps, and chairman of F43, says that F2889 will be used by state and federal government agencies that purchase foreign language proficiency tests or that contract for test development or administration. In addition, the standard will be used throughout the broader language service industry in the private sector, as companies seek qualified individuals to work in the field. Customers looking to hire language expertise will also use F2889 to provide criteria for their search.

Rivers notes that because the language industry has grown so rapidly in the last 10 years, with more languages, more services and more customers, that the testing sector of the industry needs F2889 to keep up with growth. Read more.

See: GALA Blog