DEVELOPMENT OF THE ADULT RATING OF ORAL ENGLISH (AROE) FOR LEP ADULTS

VERY FEW ORAL ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS EXIST THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR LIMITED-ENGLISH-PROFICIENT (LEP) ADULTS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE AVAILABLE INSTRUMENTS REQUIRE LEVELS OF STUDENT AND STAFF TIME AND OTHER PROGRAM RESOURCES THAT ARE DIFFICULT FOR PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE AND OFTEN ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR ASSESSMENT OF EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ORAL PROFICIENCY. THIS PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR AN ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT THROUGH DEVELOPMENT OF THE "ADULT RATING OF ORAL ENGLISH" ("AROE"). IN PHASE I THE DRAFT AROE IS DEVELOPED THROUGH (A) ADAPTATION OF A RATING INSTRUMENT CURRENTLY USED TO ASSESS CHILDREN'S ORAL ENGLISH; (B) DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING MATERIALS; AND (C) PILOT TESTS WITHIN ADULT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS. IN PHASE II THE AROE INSTRUMENT AND TRAINING MATERIALS WILL BE FINALIZED, AND VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY DATA COLLECTED. THE FINAL AROE MATERIALS WILL PROVIDE A MEANS FOR ADULT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND EMPLOMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS TO ASSESS ORAL ENGLISH PROFICIENCY, DIAGNOSE AREAS NEEDING IMPROVEMENT AND MEASURE PROGRESS FOR ADULT LEP STUDENTS FROM VARIOUS LANGUAGE BACKGROUNDS WITHIN A RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS. THE AROE WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR PROGRAMS WHERE LIMITED RESOURCES PRESENT SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO ASSESSING STUDENT ORAL PROFICIENCY.