Modeling the language assessment process and result
Gina‐Anne Levow, Mari Broman Olsen · 1999
We outline challenges for modeling human language assessment in automatic systems, both in terms of the process and the reliability of the result. We propose an architecture for a. system to evaluate learners of Spanish via the Computerized Oral Proficiency Instrument, to determine whether they have 'reached' or 'not reached' the Intermediate Low level of proficiency, according to the American Council on the Teaching of For- eign Languages (ACTFL) Speaking Proficiency Guidelines. Our system divides the acoustic and non-acoustic features, incorporating human process modeling where permitted by the technology and required by the domain. We suggest machinelearning techniques applied to this type of system permit insight into yet unarticulated aspects of the human rating process.