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Listen to the audio about the DELE exam and try to answer the questions
- Who collaborates in the creation of the DELE exams and what aspects do they share in this process?
- What is the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and what role does it play in the creation of the DELE exams?
- What document from the Instituto Cervantes is used as the basis for selecting the content of the DELE exams? Mention some of the elements it includes.
- What adaptations are considered when designing the DELE exams and what should candidates with special needs do?
- Briefly describe the validation process that the different tasks of the DELE exams undergo before their application.
- Once the exams are finished, where are the answer sheets sent and where is the written test specifically corrected?
- What are the two main types of grading used in the DELE exams and in which tests is each one used?
- What is the cutoff point needed to be declared «PASS» in any level of the DELE exam and what does this result certify?
- For how long does the Instituto Cervantes keep the DELE exams once they are completed?
- According to the text, what additional difficulty exists in the correction of the written exams?
Answer Key:
- The University of Salamanca and the Instituto Cervantes collaborate in the creation of the DELE exams. They share the correction and grading of the written expression and interaction tasks to obtain the Spanish diploma.
- The CEFR is a European standard that measures the level of comprehension and expression in a language. It serves as a reference for the experts at the Instituto Cervantes when creating the different DELE exams, aligning them with levels A1 to C2.
- The Curricular Plan of the Instituto Cervantes (PCIC) is used as the basis for selecting the content of the DELE exams. This includes grammatical, notional, functional, and pragmatic-discursive elements.
- When designing the DELE exams, adaptability for people with special needs is considered. Candidates in this situation must inform and justify their needs to the exam center at least two weeks before the official date.
- The tasks are created, tested with students, edited, and either printed or recorded. They then undergo an internal validation process and later an external validation through empirical and real testing.
- Once the exams are completed, all answer sheets are sent to the headquarters of the Instituto Cervantes in Madrid. From there, they are forwarded to the University of Salamanca, where a team of experts corrects the written test for all the exams.
- The two main types of grading are closed response (automatic, for multiple-choice questions) and open or semi-open response (carried out by trained examiners, for written and oral expression and interaction tasks).
- The cutoff point for being declared «PASS» in the DELE exams is 60% at all levels. This result certifies a sufficient level of comprehension and expression in the different skills assessed.
- The Instituto Cervantes keeps the DELE exams for a minimum of two years after they are completed.
- According to the text, an additional difficulty in the correction of written exams is the complexity of understanding the handwriting of some students.
Essay Questions:
- Describe in detail the process of creating a DELE exam, from the conception of the tasks to their submission to the exam centers. What is the importance of collaboration between the Instituto Cervantes and the University of Salamanca in this process?
- Analyze the role of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in the design and evaluation of the DELE exams. How does this standard guarantee the validity and comparability of the different diploma levels?
- Explain the different types of grading used in the DELE exams, detailing which ones are applied to each test and who is responsible for the correction. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each system?
- Discuss the importance of internal and external validation in the creation of the DELE exams. Why is it crucial to submit the tasks to this process before their application to candidates?
- Reflect on the challenges and complexity of the correction process for the DELE exams, considering the diversity of candidates and the need to ensure a fair and accurate assessment. How is the heterogeneity of responses and subjectivity in the grading of expression tests addressed?
Glossary of Key Terms:
- DELE (Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera): Official titles that certify the degree of competence and command of the Spanish language, awarded by the Instituto Cervantes on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of Spain.
- Instituto Cervantes: A Spanish public institution created to promote the teaching of the Spanish language and the diffusion of Hispanic culture.
- University of Salamanca: One of the oldest universities in Spain, which collaborates with the Instituto Cervantes in the creation, correction, and grading of DELE exams.
- CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages): A European standard that describes the skills to be mastered in a foreign language at different levels of comprehension and oral and written expression.
- PCIC (Curricular Plan of the Instituto Cervantes): A reference document from the Instituto Cervantes that establishes the grammatical, notional, functional, and pragmatic-discursive content for teaching and learning Spanish as a foreign language.
- Item: Each individual question or task that makes up an exam.
- Convocation: Each of the dates on which DELE exams are held throughout the year.
- Validation (internal and external): The process of reviewing and testing the exams to ensure their quality, appropriateness for the level, and reliability before official application. Internal validation is done by the creation team, while external validation involves independent experts and testing with students.
- Closed response: A type of answer with predefined options, such as in multiple-choice questions, which allows automatic correction.
- Open or semi-open response: A type of answer that requires elaboration by the candidate, such as in essays or oral parts, and needs to be corrected by trained examiners.
- Cutoff point: The minimum score required to pass an exam. In the case of the DELE, it is 60%.
- PASS: A grade that indicates the candidate has passed the DELE exam and has demonstrated the required level of competence.