EFL TEACHERS’ LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT LITERACY AND THEIR ASSESSMENT PRACTICES: A CASE STUDY FROM AN INDONESIAN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20535/2410-8286.344116Keywords:
Language assessment literacy, Assessment practices, EFL Teachers, Higher education, Qualitative case study, Teacher perceptionAbstract
Research on EFL teachers' language assessment literacy (LAL) and its reflection in their assessment practices remains relatively limited. The current research aims to seek answers to the questions: (1) How did the five EFL teachers perceive their LAL knowledge, skills, and principles in their assessment context? (2) How were these components reflected in their assessment practices? A qualitative case study approach, involving five experienced EFL teachers in an Indonesian university, was employed. The data were collected through two in-depth semi-structured interviews and an analysis of participants’ assessment documents. The interviews and document analysis explored participants’ LAL and their assessment practices. The assessment documents were analyzed using conventional content analysis to investigate participants’ actual assessment practices. The findings indicated that the participants’ perceived LAL was not fully manifested in their assessment practices within this departmental context. The participants in this particular institutional context demonstrated the strongest understanding of LAL principles, followed by the skills and knowledge components, which revealed tensions among these components. Regarding assessment practices, the participants demonstrated competence in using various types of assessments aligned with institutional policies. However, discrepancies were identified between their LAL and actual practices, which may be influenced by external factors. Implications for the participants’ future professional development were discussed.
Downloads
References
- Ahmadi, S., Ghaffary, S., & Shafaghi, M. (2022). Examining teacher assessment literacy and instructional improvement of Iranian high school teachers on various fields of study. International Journal of Language Testing, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.22034/ijlt.2022.146981
- Anam, S., & Putri, N. V. W. P. (2021). How literate am I about assessment: Evidence from Indonesian EFL pre-service and in-service teachers. English Review: Journal of English Education, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.25134/erjee.v9i2.4374
- Bannister, P. (2024). English medium instruction educator language assessment literacy and the test of generative AI in online higher education. Journal of Research in Applied Linguistics, 15(2), 55–72. https://doi.org/10.22055/rals.2024.45862.3214
- Berry, V., Sheehan, S., & Munro, S. (2019). What does language assessment literacy mean to teachers? ELT Journal, 73(2), 113–123. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccy055
- Bøhn, H., & Tsagari, D. (2021). Teacher educators’ conceptions of language assessment literacy in Norway. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 12(2), 222–233. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1202.02
- Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027
- Brookhart, S. M. (2024). Educational assessment knowledge and skills for teachers revisited. Education Sciences, 14(7), 751. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070751
- Brown, H. D., & Abeywickrama, P. (2010). Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices (2nd Edition). Pearson Longman.
- Bustamante, A. (2022). Language assessment literacy of middle school English Teachers in Mexico. Languages, 7(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.3390/languages7010032
- Chang, D. Y. S., Lin, M. H., & Lee, J. Y. (2024). Exploring language assessment literacy and needs of English teachers at senior high school level. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 44(4), 854–872. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2024.2313486
- Cirocki, A., Anam, S., Drajati, N. A., & Soden, B. (2025). Assessment literacy among Indonesian pre-service English language teachers: A mixed-methods study. Iranian Journal of Language Teaching Research, 13(1), 23–44. https://doi.org/10.30466/ijltr.2025.55691.2851
- Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research Methods in Education (7th Edition). Routledge.
- Coombe, C., Vafadar, H., & Mohebbi, H. (2020). Language assessment literacy: what do we need to learn, unlearn, and relearn? Language Testing in Asia, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-020-00101-6
- Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design (Third Edition). Sage Publication, Inc.
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (Fifth Edition). SAGE Publishing.
- Davidson, P., & Coombe, C. (2019). Language assessment literacy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics, 4(2), 1–23. https://arjals.com/ajal/article/view/124/70
- Davies, A. (2008). Textbook trends in teaching language testing. Language Testing, 25(3), 327–347. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532208090156
- Doğan, Ö., & Ünal, B. (2024). Refining the assessment literacy competence among K12 EFL teachers. Participatory Educational Research, 11(4), 250–266. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.24.59.11.4
- Elhussien, F. A., & Khalil, S. M. (2023). Examining language assessment literacy for Saudi Pre-service EFL teachers. World Journal of English Language, 13(6), 431–438. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n6p431
- Estaji, M. (2024). Perceived need for a teacher education course on assessment literacy development: Insights from EAP instructors. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-024-00272-2
- Farhady, H., & Tavassoli, K. (2021). EFL teachers’ perceptions and practices of their language assessment knowledge. Language Testing in Asia, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-021-00135-4
- Fitriyah, I., Masitoh, F., & Widiati, U. (2022). Classroom-based language assessment literacy and professional development need between novice and experienced EFL teachers. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 126–136. https://doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v12i1.46539
- Fulcher, G. (2012). Assessment literacy for the language classroom. Language Assessment Quarterly, 9(2), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2011.642041
- Gan, L., & Lam, R. (2022). A review on language assessment literacy: Trends, foci and contributions. Language Assessment Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2022.2128802v
- Giraldo, F. (2018). Language assessment literacy: Implications for language teachers. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 20(1), 179–195. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v20n1.62089v
- Giraldo, F. (2019). Language Assessment Practices and Beliefs: Implications for Language Assessment Literacy. HOW, 26(1), 35–61. https://doi.org/10.19183/how.26.1.481
- Giraldo, F. (2020). A post-positivist and interpretive approach to researching teachers’ language assessment literacy. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 22(1), 189–200. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v22n1.78188
- Hambali, U., Natsir, R. Y., Akib, E., & Valeryevna, P. N. (2024). Language assessment literacy in EFL edupreneurship among lecturers at Muhammadiyah University of Makassar and Samarkand Institute. APTISI Transactions on Technopreneurship, 6(3), 598–607. https://doi.org/10.34306/att.v6i3.432
- Hsieh, H. F., & Shannon, S. E. (2005). Three approaches to qualitative content analysis. Qualitative Health Research, 15(9), 1277–1288. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732305276687
- Inbar-Lourie, O. (2008). Constructing a language assessment knowledge base: A focus on language assessment courses. Language Testing, 25(3), 385–402. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532208090158
- Kremmel, B., & Harding, L. (2020). Towards a comprehensive, empirical model of language assessment literacy across stakeholder groups: Developing the language assessment literacy survey. Language Assessment Quarterly, 17(1), 100–120. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2019.1674855
- Lan, C., & Fan, S. (2019). Developing classroom-based language assessment literacy for in-service EFL teachers: The gaps. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 61, 112–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2019.03.003
- Larenas, S. V., & Brunfaut, T. (2023). But who trains the language teacher educator who trains the language teacher? An empirical investigation of Chilean EFL teacher educators’ language assessment literacy. Language Testing, 40(3), 463–492. https://doi.org/10.1177/02655322221134218
- Latif, M. W. (2021). Exploring tertiary EFL practitioners’ knowledge base component of assessment literacy: Implications for teacher professional development. Language Testing in Asia, 11(19). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-021-00130-9
- Latif, M. W., & Wasim, A. (2022). Teacher beliefs, personal theories and conceptions of assessment literacy—a tertiary EFL perspective. Language Testing in Asia, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-022-00158-5
- Lestari, S., & Yusuf, F. N. (2025). Aligning assessment practices with learning objectives: A case of EFL classes in Indonesia. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 10(1), 145–163. https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v10i1.1973
- Levi, T., & Inbar-Lourie, O. (2020). Assessment Literacy or Language Assessment Literacy: Learning from the Teachers. Language Assessment Quarterly, 17(2), 168–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2019.1692347
- Liu, J., & Li, X. (2020). Assessing young English learners: Language assessment literacy of Chinese primary school English teachers. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 2(4), 36–49. https://doi.org/10.46451//ijts.2020.12.05
- Malterud, K., Siersma, V. D., & Guassora, A. D. (2016). Sample size in qualitative interview studies: Guided by information power. Qualitative Health Research, 26(13), 1753–1760. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732315617444
- Oo, C. Z., Alonzo, D., Ei, W. Y., & Marynowski, R. (2024). Assessment practices of teachers in Myanmar: Are we there yet? Teaching and Teacher Education, 145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2024.104634
- Öz, S., & Attay, D. (2017). Turkish EFL instructors’ in-class language assessment literacy: Perceptions and practices. ELT Research Journal, 6(1), 25–44. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/296292
- Pastore, S., & Andrade, H. L. (2019). Teacher assessment literacy: A three-dimensional model. Teaching and Teacher Education, 84, 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2019.05.003
- Rezai, A. (2024). The role of teacher assessment literacy in job stress and job burnout in EFL contexts: A mixed-methods investigation. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-023-00225-1
- Rezai, A., Alibakhshi, G., Farokhipour, S., & Miri, M. (2021). A phenomenographic study on language assessment literacy: Hearing from Iranian university teachers. Language Testing in Asia, 11(26). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-021-00142-5
- Roslan, R., Nishio, Y., & Jawawi, R. (2022). Analyzing English language teacher candidates’ assessment literacy: A case of Bruneian and Japanese universities. System, 111, 102934. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SYSTEM.2022.102934
- Sevimel-Sahin, A., & Subasi, G. (2019). An overview of language assessment literacy research within English language education context. Journal of Theoretical Educational Science, 12(4), 1340–1364. https://doi.org/10.30831/akukeg.501817
- Shafii, R. A., & Berger, J. L. (2025). Teacher assessment literacy, formative assessment practices, and their perceived efficacy in Tanzania: A scoping review. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2025.101496
- Sulaiman, D., Marandi, S. S., & Tajik, L. (2021). The status quo of language assessment literacy among Syrian EFL teachers. Applied Research on English Language, 10(2), 33–60. https://doi.org/10.22108/are.2021.126136.1657
- Sultana, N. (2019). Language assessment literacy: An uncharted area for the English language teachers in Bangladesh. Language Testing in Asia, 9(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-019-0077-8
- Tajeddin, Z., Saeedi, Z., & Panahzadeh, V. (2022). English language teachers’ perceived classroom assessment knowledge and practice: Developing and validating a scale. Profile: Issues in Teachers’ Professional Development, 24(2), 247–264. https://doi.org/10.15446/profile.v24n2.90518
- Tavassoli, K., & Sorat, Z. (2023). Iranian EFL teachers’ oral/aural Skills language assessment literacy: Instrument development and validation. International Journal of Language Testing, 13(2), 56–78. https://doi.org/10.22034/IJLT.2023.376466.1219
- Taylor, L. (2013). Communicating the theory, practice and principles of language testing to test stakeholders: Some reflections. Language Testing, 30(3), 403–412. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265532213480338
- Tayyebi, M., Abbasabady, M. M., & Abbassian, G. R. (2022). Examining classroom writing assessment literacy: A focus on in-service EFL teachers in Iran. Language Testing in Asia, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40468-022-00161-w
- Ukrayinska, O. (2024). Synergies in developing pre-service teachers’ language assessment literacy in Ukrainian universities. Education Sciences, 14(3), 223. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14030223
- Varshini, S. A., & Venkatalakshmi, T. S. (2024). Assessment literacy of Indian educators at the tertiary-level: Insights on practices and perspectives. Research Journal in Advanced Humanities, 5(4), 117–131. https://doi.org/10.58256/btp1d832
- Watmani, R., Asadollahfam, H., & Behin, B. (2020). Demystifying language assessment literacy among high school teachers of English as a Foreign Language in Iran: Implications for teacher education reforms. International Journal of Language Testing, 10(2), 129–144. https://www.ijlt.ir/article_118025_c3e48269d28fe50ac5b4fc8dc9f0ad7d.pdf
- Wiese, E., & Nortvedt, G. A. (2023). Teacher assessment literacy in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms: A Norwegian case study. Teaching and Teacher Education, 135, 104357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104357
- Yin, R. K. (2018). Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods. Sage Publication, Inc.
- Yin, T., & Fang, X. (2025). The role of China’s Standards of English Language Ability (CSE) assessment literacy in promoting teachers’ language assessment literacy profiles: Evidence from Chinese university EFL teachers. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 34, 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-024-00863-0
- Zulaiha, S., Mulyono, H., & Ambarsari, L. (2020). An investigation into EFL teachers’ assessment literacy: Indonesian teachers’ perceptions and classroom practice. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 9(1), 189–201. https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2020.1.189
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Indah Puspawati, Sri Rejeki Murtiningsih. Cover image generated with the assistance of Bing Image Creator.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
















