The Critical Perspective of English Language Testing and Assessment within Framework of Elana Shohamy

Abstract

The language assessments and testing are the crucial aspects of teaching and learning processes. Therefore, the following study is aimed to focus on these two most important aspects with refer to a critical view on its practical aspect that is after passing through a tactful teaching process. The crucial notion of practicing language assessments as well as testing towards a critical sense was initiated by Elana Shohamy in her critical works. It was after her thorough observations and experimentations of testing within various learning disciplines, the present study is designed as a review on some of particular testing structures that has been observed under influence of power, hegemony and biasedness with respect to social elements that encounters it. Therefore, it is quite necessary to highlight a prospective of Elana Shohamy, who has tried her best to arrange a valuable platform in order to discuss the related issues critically regarding testing procedures. In the end, reasons provided by Elana Shohamy has been highlighted that can verily show that test itself cannot be a fully trusted authority. It can be a challenging aspect at any rate that could be dealt accordingly in order to restore its very nature of being neutral in every respect.