Review on the validity of China’s Standards of English Language Ability

Lu Wang; Meihua Chen

doi:10.54475/jlt.2023.014

Authors

Lu Wang Southeast University https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0372-1922
Meihua Chen Southeast University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54475/jlt.2023.014

Keywords:

China’s Standards of English Language Ability, validity, language scales

Abstract

The English and Chinese versions of China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE) were released in 2018. The appearance of CSE helps to solve the problems of different standards of English exams in China, the separation of teaching and assessment objectives, and the incoherence of teaching objectives at various stages. Before, during, and after the development of the CSE, many scholars have discussed the construction of the scale from theory to practice and contributed to the realization of the same standardization for English testing in China. This paper aims to review the relevant studies in order to provide insights and suggestions for the future research and application of the CSE from three aspects: 1) introducing the two major theoretical frameworks for validating language scales in China; 2) reviewing the studies on the validity of the CSE in general; and 3) reviewing the empirical studies on the validity of the sub-scales in the CSE, including listening, speaking, reading, writing, interpreting, translation, pragmatic competence. However, there is a lack of studies on the aspect of organizational competence.

Author Biographies

Lu Wang, Southeast University

Lu Wang is an M.A. candidate in Applied Linguistics at Southeast University. She obtained a B.A. in English literature at JiangNan University, China. She has published research articles in journals such as Technology Innovation and Application. She worked as a TA at Southeast University. Her research interests include Language Policy and Planning, self-regulated language learning, and language testing.
Email: luwanggrace98@gmail.com
Meihua Chen, Southeast University

Meihua Chen (Corresponding Author) is Professor of Linguistics in the School of Foreign Languages, Southeast University. She is a PhD supervisor. Her research has appeared in a broad array of prestigious journals such as Frontiers in Psychology, Foreign Language Teaching and Research, Foreign Languages in China, Foreign Language Education, Foreign Languages and Their Teaching, Technology Enhanced Foreign Languages. Her main research interests are in the field of Applied Linguistics, English Language Education, Language Policy and Planning.
Email: meihuachen123@126.com

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