Dr. Mika Hama, Visiting Assistant Professor at George Mason University, presented "Peeking into Language Assessment" at the 11th MCL and Cultural Studies Faculty and Graduate Student Forum on Wednesday, January 28, from 1:30 to 3:00 PM in Horizon Hall 5225.
Her presentation outlined the historical development of language testing and examined current best practices, drawing on examples from major testing organizations such as ETS and the British Council to highlight key shifts in testing design and implementation. The talk also introduced cutting-edge assessment approaches being developed at Columbia University, explored emerging trends in AI-assisted language testing, and proposed potential approaches for developing MCL's waiver and placement tests tailored to the unique needs of each language program.
Dr. Hama holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Georgetown University. Prior to joining George Mason University, she served as Vice President and Head of Testing and Localization Services at Berlitz Corporation, where she oversaw test development and language testing operations across 32 languages.