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PAL Measures Language Dominance.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: PAL Measures Language Dominance.
Authors: Gil, Sylvia, Intercultural Development Research Association, San Antonio, TX.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 5
Publication Date: 1975
Document Type: Reports - Descriptive
Descriptors: Bilingual Education, Bilingual Students, Elementary Education, Language Learning Levels, Language Proficiency, Language Tests, Program Descriptions, Testing Programs
Abstract: The Primary Acquisition of Languages Oral Language Dominance Measure (PAL) developed by the El Paso Independent School District determines a child's structural proficiency in English and Spanish and measures language dominance to aid in placing pupils in bilingual programs. PAL consists of four components, including an examiner's manual containing directions for administering and scoring the test, a picture book containing three cartoon-type pictures used in administering the test, a scoring book containing the English questions and spaces for recording and scoring the child's responses in English, and a scoring booklet containing the Spanish questions and spaces for recording and scoring the child's responses in Spanish. PAL is administered to one child at a time by a bilingual person who has undergone special training. When scoring is completed for all children, language dominance is established by converting the English and Spanish scores into language levels. Each child is then classified as Spanish dominant, bilingual, or English dominant. PAL is an economical instrument that provides valuable information on levels of language proficiency; however, it does require specialized training, particularly for the scoring process. (Author/JG)
Entry Date: 1976
Accession Number: ED125153
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:The Primary Acquisition of Languages Oral Language Dominance Measure (PAL) developed by the El Paso Independent School District determines a child's structural proficiency in English and Spanish and measures language dominance to aid in placing pupils in bilingual programs. PAL consists of four components, including an examiner's manual containing directions for administering and scoring the test, a picture book containing three cartoon-type pictures used in administering the test, a scoring book containing the English questions and spaces for recording and scoring the child's responses in English, and a scoring booklet containing the Spanish questions and spaces for recording and scoring the child's responses in Spanish. PAL is administered to one child at a time by a bilingual person who has undergone special training. When scoring is completed for all children, language dominance is established by converting the English and Spanish scores into language levels. Each child is then classified as Spanish dominant, bilingual, or English dominant. PAL is an economical instrument that provides valuable information on levels of language proficiency; however, it does require specialized training, particularly for the scoring process. (Author/JG)