SPEAK (test)
Encyclopedia
The Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) was an oral test was developed by the Educational Testing Service
(ETS. The SPEAK was administered to non-native English
speakers. Its aim was to evaluate the examinee's proficiency in spoken English. It was usually taken as a professional certification
, especially for graduate teaching assistants in the American college and university system, who are often required to hold office hours and converse in English with students. It was also used in the medical profession, where communication with patients is required.
The SPEAK test was very similar to the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and was in fact a form of the TSE developed for institutions by using retired forms of the TSE.
Both the TSE and SPEAK were discontinued by ETS after the new TOEFL
iBT added a speaking section. The Speaking section of the TOEFL is not available separately from the other sections, but institutions wishing to test speaking skills only may want to use the TOEIC
(Test of English for International Communication) Speaking Test, also developed by ETS and available as a stand-alone assessment
Educational Testing Service
Educational Testing Service , founded in 1947, is the world's largest private nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization...
(ETS. The SPEAK was administered to non-native English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
speakers. Its aim was to evaluate the examinee's proficiency in spoken English. It was usually taken as a professional certification
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
, especially for graduate teaching assistants in the American college and university system, who are often required to hold office hours and converse in English with students. It was also used in the medical profession, where communication with patients is required.
The SPEAK test was very similar to the Test of Spoken English (TSE) and was in fact a form of the TSE developed for institutions by using retired forms of the TSE.
Both the TSE and SPEAK were discontinued by ETS after the new TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
iBT added a speaking section. The Speaking section of the TOEFL is not available separately from the other sections, but institutions wishing to test speaking skills only may want to use the TOEIC
TOEIC
The Test of English for International Communication measures the ability of non-native English-speaking examinees to use English in everyday workplace activities.-Overview:...
(Test of English for International Communication) Speaking Test, also developed by ETS and available as a stand-alone assessment