Testing & Task Analysis

Language Testing International (LTI) is the exclusive distributor of the internationally recognized proficiency assessments developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

ACTFL is an organization dedicated to the improvement and expansion of the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels of instruction. ACTFL is an individual membership organization of more than 12,500 world language educators and administrators. ACTFL assessments are the products of fifty years of research, development and application within the academic, government and commercial sectors in the U.S. The validity and reliability of ACTFL assessments are supported by published research studies presented annually at professional conferences worldwide.

ACTFL/LTI is the world leader in the direct assessment of language proficiency in speaking, writing, listening and reading, and currently offers testing in over 100 languages.

Proficiency Testing

LTI has organized and administered proficiency assessments for over 20% of Fortune 500 companies, as well as countless universities, and government agencies across the globe. In 2017, LTI will administer over 500,000 language proficiency assessments.

ACTFL develops its assessments through validation studies and reliability evidence, and therefore affirms the appropriateness of the tests and the accuracy of its results to inform the user about language proficiency, and about an individual’s skills and abilities in speaking, writing, listening and reading in the target language.

Before testing begins for the client, LTI will work with the client’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in order to set fair and appropriate, legally defensible minimum proficiency levels, as well as confirm/identify the necessary skills to be tested for the position. This standard setting is referred to as an LTI Task Analysis.

LTI will create a customized client utility website to facilitate the online scheduling of the assessments selected. Through this site, the client will be able to order tests, view schedules and retrieve ratings at any time.

LTI Task Analysis Overview

Language Testing International (LTI), with a group of Industrial and Organizational psychologists, developed the LTI Task Analysis process to assist companies in establishing minimum proficiency levels for bilingual positions. The process requires the client to carefully select a group of “Subject Matter Experts” or SMEs who are very familiar with communication tasks involved in the positions, and represent all stakeholders in the selection of effective bilinguals for those positions. Through a series of data collection activities, the SME group identifies the communication tasks and functions; range of content/context areas; level of accuracy; and degree of elaboration needed to perform the bilingual position in question. For more information about the Task Analysis process and pricing, please contact LTI’s account executive Renée Tarrant (rtarrant@languagetesting.com).