New directions East Asia 2024: Exploring the transformative role of language assessment in education and society

Bringing together UK and global expertise, the 12th edition of the Global Language Testing and Assessment Conference explores how language learning and assessment can drive social and economic progress, increase the quality of education and contribute to global interconnection.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 November 2024 – the British Council’s flagship event on language testing and assessment, New directions East Asia 2024brings together regional and international leaders in education November 21-23 in Bangkok, Thailand. Now in its 12th year, the annual conference provides a unique platform for policy makers, educators, academics, teachers and assessment experts to collaborate, share ideas and explore the latest innovations in language assessment.

Organized by the British Council, the UK’s organization for educational opportunities and cultural exchange, the theme of this year’s conference is: “The evaluative power of language on individuals and society.” It invites meaningful discussion on how language assessment policies can drive social and economic progress, boost the quality of education and contribute to global interconnectedness. This three-day event covers the latest global research and will promote practical tools for policy makers, educational institutions, teachers, teacher trainers and evaluation professionals.

Mark Walker, Global Director of English and Examinations, British Council said, “Language assessment, when thoughtfully designed and implemented, has the power to uplift individuals, shape education systems, and support inclusive growth within societies. I am delighted that the New Directions East Asia conference in Thailand will explore the transformative role of language. assessment on individuals and society”.

This year’s New Directions East Asia conference examines the impact of language assessment policy at various levels:

1. English language policy, learning systems and assessment
2. Politics and society
3. English alongside other languages
4. Technology and AI

A focus on policy and impact

The conference focuses on the impact of language assessment policies at both the macro and micro levels. At the macro level, informed policy promotes sustainable social and economic progress by strengthening the links between curriculum, teaching and assessment, ultimately creating a robust education system. At the micro level, it improves the accessibility and quality of education for individual learners, preparing them to meet the communication demands of a multilingual, globalized world.

At the same time, the conference addresses policy and decision-making challenges, exploring cases where language assessment policies can lead to unintended consequences and lessons that can be learned. Discussions focus on four key areas:

English language policy, learning systems and assessment: It focuses on how assessment policies shape curriculum design and influence teachers and learners, presenting successful reforms in improving communication skills.

Politics and Society: It highlights the role of language policies in promoting economic growth, global connectivity and social mobility, particularly for employment opportunities and migration.

English alongside other languages: Examines the coexistence of English with local and national languages ​​in East Asia, exploring how policies support linguistic diversity and the role of English in communication.

Technology and AI: Discusses the application of artificial intelligence in language learning and assessment, focusing on its potential for personalized learning and cost-effective assessments, while addressing concerns of access and equity.

“On many occasions, strong government policies on language learning and development, combined with standardized assessments, can lead to improvements in the teaching, learning and assessment of English. It’s great to see discussions about how this can improve educational outcomes as well as support social development,” he noted Heather Forbes, Regional Director of Examinations, East Asia, at the British Council. “At the individual level, language policies often increase life opportunities for young people and prepare them for the communication and collaboration demands of a multilingual world.”

Keynote speakers and panelists at the New Directions conference include thought leaders and educational experts in English language assessment from across the Asia-Pacific and the world, including Associate Professor Jirada Wudthayagorn, Director, Institute of Foreign Languages ​​Chulalongkorn University (Thailand); Professor Claudia Harsch, University of Bremen (Germany); Dr. Tony Capstick, Associate Professor of Language and Migration, University of Reading (UK); Ms. Saengkae Khonghuayrob, Director, English Language Institute, Human Capital Excellence Management Center, Office of the Basic Education Commission (Thailand); Dr. Huu Nguyen, Director, National Foreign Language Project, Ministry of Education and Training (Viet Nam); Professor Barry O’Sullivan, Director, Research in English, British Council (UK); Dr Jessica Wu, Deputy Director General and Director General Research and Development, Language Training and Testing Center (Taiwan), Professor Ianthi Tsimpli, Professor of English and Applied Linguistics, University of Cambridge (UK), and Dr. Adam Edmett, Head of Ed Tech Innovation, Great Britain Council (UK).

For more information about the New Directions Conference, please visit:

https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/programmes/new-directions-east-asia-2024

Hashtag: #BritishCouncil #NewDirectionsEastAsia2024 #NDEA2024

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About the British Council

The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries around the world. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in over 100 countries. In 2022-23 we reached 600 million people.

www.britishcouncil.org