Connecting reality and assessment practices: Interactional competence construct for assessing language for specific purposes

This webinar explores the construct of interactional competence (IC) in assessing language for specific purposes (LSP). Interactional competence (IC), which encompasses the ability to manage social actions and co-constructed actions in conversations, has become a critical element in teaching and assessing a second or foreign language, particularly in professional and specialized settings. However, traditional language assessments and language policies often focus on linguistic accuracy at the expense of interactional skills. This webinar will bridge the gap between classroom realities and the emerging trend in language learning and testing policy which increasingly targets real-world language use. Through the lens of IC, language teachers can provide more explicit, research-based explanations to language use in a variety of contexts and situations, which subsequently can inform the design and administration of our assessment practices. We will discuss key components of IC, such as turn construction unit, sequence, and overall sequential organization, and explore methods for evaluating these in performance-based assessments. Attendees will gain insights into designing tasks that reflect real-world communication challenges and foster learners' interactional skills, aligning assessment with practical language demands in professional contexts.