This Festschrift brings together 28 invited papers surveying the state of the art in language testing. The papers, by key figures in the field of language testing, cover issues ranging from test construct definition to the design and applications of language tests, including their importance as a means of exploring larger issues in language teaching, language learning and language policy. The volume locates work in language assessment in a context of social, political and ethical issues at a time when testing is increasingly expected to be publicly accountable. It is thus particularly appropriate as a tribute to Alan Davies, whose work in this field since the 1960s has been marked by its conceptual strength and social responsiveness, seeking constantly to clarify and challenge current practice and new trends.

The Equivalence of Direct and Semi-Direct Speaking Tests documents a comparability study of direct (face-to-face) and semi-direct (language laboratory) versions of the speaking component of the access test: an English language test designed in the 1990s as part of the selection process for immigration to Australia. In the study the issue of test equivalence is explored using a range of quantitative and qualitative evidence including test scores, test taker language output and feedback from various 'players' in the test process including members of the development team, test candidates, interviewers and raters. The findings have important implications for the use of direct and semi-direct speaking tests in various high-stakes contexts such as immigration and university entrance. As such this will be of interest to policy-makers and administrators as well as language teachers and language testing researchers.

This clear and authoritative introduction to the principles of private international law, a complex and rapidly changing area, now appears in a revised and fully updated form. The English conflict of laws is a body of rules whose purpose is to assist an English court in deciding a case which contains a foreign element. In this new third edition, the chapters on tort, jurisdiction, and staying of actions have been almost entirely rewritten. The chapter on the Brussels and Lugano Conventions has been recast and expanded. The growing influence of European Union law on UK private international law is evident in this third edition, which will be a valuable text for students and practitioners alike.

New Interchange is the second edition of Interchange, one of the world's most successful English courses for adult and young adult learners at the beginning to intermediate levels. New Interchange Intro, the introductory level of the series, is designed for beginners and for learners heeding a thorough review of basic structures and vocabulary. New Interchange Intro provides a smooth transition to New Interchange Levels 1,2 and 3. New Interchange Intro incorporates suggestions from around the world, offered by students and teachers using the first edition. It includes fresh new content, more visuals to introduce vocabulary, more opportunities to build fluency, and up-to-date art and design. The entire New Interchange series features high-interest topics, a focus on both accuracy and fluency, and a multi-skills syllabus integrating themes, structures, functions, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The underlying philosophy of the course is that language is best learned when used for meaningful communication. New Interchange is written in American English, but reflects the fact that English is the major language of international communication, and is not limited to any one country, region, or culture.

Advance Your English is the ideal coursebook for advanced level students who don't have time to complete a lengthy English course, but who want to maintain or develop their language level using fresh, varied, concise material. Providing approximately 40 hours of classroom teaching time, Advance Your English covers a rich diversity of topics which will engage and motivate students at this level. The course contains 16 short units, each organised into two lessons to give students a satifying sense of pace and achievement. Reading, writing, listening and speaking to grammar is inductive, and students are offered extensive opportunities for manipulating and practising new language. The course also contains regular study skills sections which promote independent, active language acquisition.

This book is the most comprehensive and up-to-date treatment of the assessment of reading in a foreign or second language.

This volume presents a framework that expands the traditional concept of a vocabulary test to cover a range of procedures for assessing the vocabulary knowledge of second language learners.

This photocopiable resource is packed full of interesting, ready-to-use activities, saving the teacher valuable preparation time. It offers a variety of pair and group activities to practise the most common functions and language of business, from socialising and eating out to negotiating and marketing.

This collection of practice material for the International English Language Testing system (IELTS) has been specially prepared for publication by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate. It provides students with an excellent opportunity to familiarise themselves with IELTS and to practise examination techniques using authentic test material. Cambridge IELTS 2 contains four complete tests for Academic candidates, plus extra Reading and Writing modules for General Training candidates. The book includes an introduction to these different modules together with an explanation of the scoring system used by Cambridge ESOL The inclusion of a comprehensive section of answers and tapescripts means that the material is ideal for students working partly or entirely on their own. The cassettes contain material for the listening paper in the same timed format as the exam.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. A struggling writer and a computer with a mind of its own fight for control of the writer's story and destiny. When Frank Wormold buys a computer to help him with his writing, he gets a lot more help than he wants. The ensuing battle of wills between himself and the computer makes Frank realise what the important things in life really are.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. A man is found on the street, and taken to hospital. He appears unable to tell the doctor who he is, or where he comes from, but has he really lost his memory? The man is playing a dangerous game, and really knows a lot more than he is prepared to say. When he leaves the hospital, he goes to the house of the nurse who looked after him, and events take a very sinister turn.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Brad and his girlfriend Gina love the movies and go every Saturday night. They want to get married but haven't got much money. Then one day, Brad gets an idea from a movie about how to make a lot of money — an idea that involves murder. But Brad's plan doesn't go quite as he hoped and he discovers that real life doesn't always have a happy ending.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Liz teaches archaeology in Athens. She works too hard and her doctor tells her she needs to take a holiday. So she goes to the beautiful and peaceful Greek island of Sifnos. But the peace does not last long when a local man dies in suspicious circumstances. Liz ignores advice not to get involved and her relaxing holiday becomes a matter of life and death.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Penny Wade travels to Barcelona to perform in a concert with her orchestra. But the trip is not quite what she imagined. Her double bass goes missing and her boyfriend is acting very strangely. One night everyone is woken by screams and the orchestra manager is found dead on the street outside their hotel. Did he fall from the hotel window or was he pushed? And what has Penny's missing double bass got to do with it?

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Jojo is playing in the fields when soldiers come and kill everyone in his village. With the help of Chris, a British journalist, and his memories, Jojo struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family and friends. Jojo's journey across his war-torn country leads him to self-discovery and a decision that will change his life for ever.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. When Edinburgh restaurant owner Alex Maclennan is found dead in his bathroom, Inspector Jenny Logan is called in to investigate. At first his death looks like an accident but Logan begins to think it could be murder. Does his wife, his brother-in-law or his friend know more about his death than they will admit? Logan uncovers the truth about Alex's business affairs and personal life, and devises a plan to catch the killer.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. A plane crashes in the middle of the desert in Oman leaving a pilot and his family hurt and stranded. The pilot begins a journey across the desert to get help but collapses from exhaustion. He is found and taken to a nearby hospital but he is unconscious and no one has any idea who he is or where he has come from. Meanwhile time is running out for his wife and son who are waiting in the desert for help to arrive.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Aires is waiting at the traffic lights on her motorbike. She notices two men with a gun in the car next to her. Seconds later she is hit by a taxi, and wakes up in hospital with no memory of the accident or the two men. However, the men are afraid of what might happen if her memory returns and plan to make sure it never does.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. Aires is waiting at the traffic lights on her motorbike. She notices two men with a gun in the car next to her. Seconds later she is hit by a taxi, and wakes up in hospital with no memory of the accident or the two men. However, the men are afraid of what might happen if her memory returns and plan to make sure it never does.

Modern, original fiction for learners of English. A spaceship crashes on a strange planet. The only survivor, Mary Mount, is taken prisoner by an alien civilization. In time she is allowed to return to her old planet with some of her new friends. But when they arrive back at her home, the plan seems to have changed. And Mary doesn't receive the welcome she expects.