Extending the Global Sale of English (GSE) to the Global Scale of Languages (GSL) : Part 2: Aligning German Learning Objectives to the GSL

Abstract

The Global Scale of English (GSE) offers a detailed means of describing and assessing the progress and performance of English language learners. Pearson has conducted extensive research (see Pearson) in using the GSE Learning Objectives as the reference scale to extend the 2001 set of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) Can-do statements to address the
needs of more learners.

The purpose of this study was to validate whether learning objectives from the newly established Global Scale of Languages (GSL) are applicable to adult learners of German-as-a-Foreign Language (GFL). 320 GSE Learning Objectives were translated into German. A panel of 20 qualified raters drawn from a pool of GFL teachers were invited to conduct 25 Comparative Judgement (CJ) comparisons per learning objective resulting in 8000 data points.

A series of analyses, including rater and item fit statistics, were performed. Strong correlations were established among the Learning Objectives’ CJ scores in German, Spanish and English versions, as well as with the original GSE values. Further analysis on the combined Spanish and German CJ data validates the alignment of the GSE with the GSL.

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ORCID for Ying Zheng: orcid.org/0000-0003-2574-0358

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