1st New Directions English: Language Assessment in China
- Dates: 6-7 November 2013
- Venue: National Museum of China, Beijing, China
The first New Directions conference addressed issues associated with assessment for learning: washback and formative assessment; localisation and customisation; adapting tests to Chinese contexts and developing English teacher assessment literacy. The event in Beijing coincides with a number of anniversaries: 35 years since the British Council was established in China; 25 years of IELTS worldwide and 10 years of the British Council delivering IELTS in China in partnership with the National Education Examinations Authority.
NEW DIRECTIONS 2013 KEY SPEAKERS
- Professor Jin Yan
Shanghai Jiaotong University, Chair of National College English Testing Committee - Professor Barry O’Sullivan
Senior Advisor, English Language Assessment, British Council - Professor Han Baocheong
Beijing Foreign Studies University, Director of China Language Assessment Research Society - Andrew Mackenzie
Head of Assessment Service, British Council - Keita Nakamura / Shuken Shiozaki
Eiken Foundation of Japan
2nd New Directions English: Role of English Assessment in Internationalisation
- Dates: 29-30 September 2014
- Venue: Meiji Kinenkan, Tokyo, Japan
The second conference in Japan brought together chief educational officers and key officials from across Asia to review the issues of localisation and globalisation in English Language Assessment and of expanding capacity to address current and future education and assessment challenges. It also provided a valuable networking opportunity and set the stage for further cooperation among key audience and attendees from Asian countries and beyond.
NEW DIRECTIONS 2014 KEY SPEAKERS
- Professor Masashi Negishi
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies - Professor Oryang Kwon
Seoul National University - Dr. Jessica R.W. Wu
The Language Training & Testing Centre - Gerry Delaney
Head of Assessment Services (East Asia), Cambridge English Language Assessment - Keita Nakamura
Eiken Foundation of Japan - Kuniaki Sato
Deputy Director, Office for International Planning, Higher Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
The 3rd British Council New Directions in English Language Assessment: Quality and Consequence
- Dates: 15-16 October 2015
- Venue: JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, Korea
New Directions 2015 in Korea looked at test quality and the consequences of testing from the point of view of society and education policy. It also considered the impact of testing on pedagogy and curriculum design, examining the challenges in the testing and assessment sector and solutions to be found if countries such as Korea are to address the concerns amongst the wider public about the integrity and quality of testing methodologies.
NEW DIRECTIONS 2015 KEY SPEAKERS
- Young-Soo Kim
President of Korea Institute for Curriculum & Evaluation (KICE), Korea - Professor Constant Leung
King's College London, UK - Nick Saville
Director of Cambridge English Language Assessment, UK - Professor Antony John Kunnan
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore - Professor John H.A.L. De Jong
Pearson Netherlands - Elizabeth Shepherd
Senior Research Manager, British Council - Associate Professor Yong-Won Lee
Seoul National University, Korea - Professor Barry O'Sullivan
British Council - Professor Han Baocheng
Beijing Foreign Studies University, China - Professor Dongwan Cho
Pohang University of Science and Technology, Korea - Professor Tineke Brunfaut
Lancaster University, UK