Analysis of the ILR "Can Do Statements" as a SOFTS Placement Tool
Abstract
As part of an ongoing Special Operations Forces Tele-training System (SOFTS) training evaluation project, the Special Operations Forces Language Office (SOFLO) requested that SWA Consulting Inc. investigate the effectiveness of the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) "Can Do Statements" as a placement tool for SOFTS courses. Researchers asked the following questions: (1) Are the "Can Do Statements" measuring perceived language speaking proficiency consistently and accurately for all students?, and (2) Are the "Can Do Statements" related to similar constructs such as students' confidence in their ability to perform language tasks? The SOFTS "Can Do Statements" measure perceived speaking proficiency, which is an individual's perception of his or her language ability as opposed to actual speaking proficiency, as measured by validated instruments such as the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI). A sample of 1,710 student responses to the "Can Do Statements" was provided by Progressive Expert Consulting (PEC) Inc. An analysis of course feedback open-ended items also was conducted. Although this study provides some support for the use of the ILR "Can Do Statements" as a placement tool for SOFTS courses, some limitations may restrict the usefulness of the findings. Most notably, this study used data that had already been collected before the research questions were formulated. A follow-up study could involve measuring actual proficiency with an OPI at the beginning of language training for a sub-sample of SOFTS students.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA585068
Entities
People
- Aaron M. Watson
- Amanda Deane
- Amanda Gissel
- Eric A. Surface
- Reanna P. Harman
- Sarah Bienkowski