This module will raise your awareness of key principles in language evaluation. You will look at the full range of formative and summative purposes of testing and assessment in language education and apply them to test design, construction and evaluation, being able to critically evaluate institutional, national and international language examinations. You will create specifically designed tests for relevant institutional contexts and familiarise yourself with new perspectives in testing and assessment. Finally, you will develop pathways into TEA research.
" The tutors are very knowledgeable and know how to get the best out of us - scoring example assessments was very useful. "
Is this course for you?
4 - 15 August 2025
Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or MA awarded by University of Chichester
Homestay (half-board): £560
Residential (half-board): £672
Residential (self-catering): £560
More information
Course content
Assessment (written after completion of the course and supervised at distance by tutors):
A portfolio (50%) containing TWO out of the following three options:
- A critical review of a test or exam of significance in your professional context.
- An INSET session or sessions for a group of colleagues, dealing with an aspect of TEA covered during the course and of relevance to your needs.
- A test or assessment procedure designed to meet a significant need in your workplace.
A main assignment of around 3,000 words (50%), developing further an area covered in the course which is of particular interest to you and/or of special relevance to your workplace/professional context.
" I loved how multicultural the course participants were. There was a lovely atmosphere, friendly coursemates and well-respected teachers in the field. The workshops were very practical. "
" The two tutors are the best to cover the different areas involved. I feel privileged to have had them as teachers constantly there to help us and open to our suggestions. A wonderful course. I would definitely recommend this course to my colleagues. "
Timetable
This course consists of 50 hours of tuition, delivered between 09:00 and 15:30, Monday - Friday. You will also take part in cross-curricular workshops on a variety of topics, and each course includes a free evening and weekend programme of social and cultural activities and trips.
Further Information
Specific course content comes from feedback you and other participants give us through pre-course questionnaires, identifying your needs and priorities.
Time will be built into the course for reflection and for you to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to your classroom in your own professional contexts.
NILE offers various accommodation options, including homestay with carefully selected hosts and residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. NILE’s dedicated student welfare team can be reached 24 hours a day.
All NILE courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or the development of language awareness.
MA Module Leader: Anna Whinnett
Anna is a senior examiner, teacher trainer and consultant with specific expertise in ESP and language testing and assessment. Her ELT career began as a language school EFL teacher more than 20 years ago. She has been an online tutor for almost a decade, teaching and supporting international Master’s students in UK higher education, and as an external examiner/ adviser she is involved in the development and quality assurance of EAP programmes in the UK and abroad.
Anna’s qualifications include an MA in Language Testing a postgraduate Dip TESOL and the LTCL Diploma TESOL.
Available dates:
| Course dates | Location | Course length | |
| 4 August - 15 August 2025 | Norwich | 2 weeks |
