Standardized Measures

When using formal assessment measures, the rule of thumb is to select tools that have been empirically validated and achieve a minimum of 80% sensitivity and specificity (Plante & Vance, 1994)

CHESL Language Development Centre

Paradis et al., (2013) developed an assessment protocol for multilingual language assessment. Their Alternative Norming Calculator is a referencing tool, for children 4.5-7.5 of age, based on the performance of English Language Learners with 4-40 months of exposure to English as a second language. Calculations require use of ALDeQ, ENNI, TEGI Screening, CTOPP nonword repetition subtest, and PPVT. (Sensitivity 85%, Specificity 91%)

The Edmonton Narrative Norms Instrument - Ages 4-9

ENNI (Schneider, et al., 2005) is a tool for collecting structured narrative language samples. The ENNI consists of two sets of three-story picture books from which children tell a total of six stories. The picture books increase in complexity by adding characters and making story action more involved. A child tells the stories to the examiner, who cannot see the pictures, so the child cannot use strategies like joint attention or gestures like pointing. Measures include Story Grammar for Narrative (A3), Mean Length of Communicative Unit (MLCU) and Number of Different Words (NDW).

Test of Early Grammatical Impairment Screener

The TEGI Screening (Rice & Wexler, 2001) is a standardized test of grammatical ability. It includes probes that require the child to produce English words in sentences with target grammatical morphemes. Screening including phonological, third person singular, and past tense probes.

Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing Nonword

The CTOPP Nonword Repetition Subtest (Wagner, et al., 1999) requires children to repeat words as accurately as possible after hearing them once. The test begins with basic one-syllable nonsense words and continues with increasing complexity.

Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test

The PPVT (Dunn & Dunn, 2007) is a measure of receptive vocabulary size where children are asked to identify spoken words from an array of four pictures.

Questions or Suggestions?

Research in the area of multilingual language assessment is ongoing worldwide. Additional resources and information will continue to be added as it becomes available. Your suggestions are questions are welcomed and valued! Click to access feedback form.

Page updated

Report abuse