Abstract
The demands of being the teacher as assessor
Assessment in language programs is primarily criterion-referenced and instructor-led, especially in post-secondary educational settings. Thus, the role of language assessment literacy (LAL) of teachers is crucial for the effectiveness of these programs. Considering the current research in the field, this session analyses the acquisition and development of teachers’ LAL as well as its implications for the teacher-as-assessor role in their teaching practice.
About the keynote speakers:
Professor Dr. Shahid Abrar-ul-Hassan
Yorkville University, Canada
Topic: The Demands of Being the Teacher as Assessor
Shahid Abrar-ul-Hassan has been working as a language educator, researcher, and teacher development professional for over two decades at institutions in many regions of the world. He is currently Professor (English language and communications) at Yorkville University, British Columbia Campus in New Westminster, BC, Canada. He has also served as a Subject Matter Expert with the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training in Canada. He is a visiting professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Southeast University (东南大学), Nanjing, China and guest faculty for Yunus Professional Master’s, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Shahid was Co-Editor of the Special Issue on language assessment literacy of System (An international journal of educational technology and applied linguistics by Elsevier). He has served as an editor of TESOL Journal as well as the volume editor of Teaching English as an International Language (Volume 1) of the TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, both published by Wiley-Blackwell. He served on the Advisory Committee for the TESOL Certificate program in the College of Education, University of Missouri, USA and was Visiting Researcher in the College of Education and Human Development, The University of Texas at San Antonio, USA. Shahid also completed a term as Secretary (elected executive) of TESL Canada Federation and Chair of TESL Canadian Educational Foundation. He has performed several leadership roles with TESOL International Association (USA) including as Chair of Interest Sections, Member of the Nominating Committee, and a coordinator of Awards Professional Council. In recognition of his contribution to the field, Shahid was honored with an Alumni Achievement Award (2018) by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California. He received Distinguished Instructor award (best teacher) from Sultan Qaboos University for excellence in teaching.
Shahid earned his MA TESOL and Postgraduate Certificates in CALL as well as Language Program Administration from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (USA) and PhD Education from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada). He has offered invited (onsite) professional development sessions at universities in Albania, Algeria, Canada, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Turkey, USA, and Vietnam. His professional areas of interest include ESP/EAP, cross-cultural communication, learner-centered instruction, learner motivation, differentiated teacher development (also, research and publication literacy), and effective language assessment. Email: shahidabrar@yahoo.com