Assessment of English as a Lingua Franca and Its Principles: A Research Synthesis

Abstract

Despite the burgeoning interest in English as a Lingua Franca (ELF), there is scant research on the principles that can inform ELF assessment. To address this gap, this mixed-methods research synthesis sought to review and synthesize relevant studies on ELF to outline principles that can serve as a basis for ELF assessment, including test domains, dimensions, and rating rubrics. We drew on three main inclusion criteria to select relevant studies (a) published as journal articles, book chapters, or conference proceedings, (b) appearing during the period from 2000 to 2023, and (c) focused on ELF assessment. The search yielded 58 studies for this research synthesis. Findings revealed nine main principles that can underpin test domains (Using ELF corpora, Prioritizing ELF local context, and Measuring ELF multidimensional competence), test dimensions (Test accommodation, ELF-informed tasks), and rating rubrics (Discipline-informed rating rubric, Nonnative English speakers as raters, Strategy use, and Intelligible pronunciation). Implications are discussed for test developers’ awareness of ELF principles that can inform test construct definition, operationalization, and rating criteria.