Designing integrated performance assessments for portuguese as an additional language

Abstract

This study describes the design and implementation of two integrated performance assessment (IPA) instruments in the Portuguese language, following the model from Troyan et al. (2023). Performance assessments are tools used in the evaluation of language learners in instructional contexts and focus on measuring the development of communicative competence. The instruments presented here assess three modes of communication: interpretative, interpersonal, and presentational. They were designed for the novice and intermediate levels, according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency descriptors. We also report their use in two Portuguese university courses and the perceptions and experiences of students who completed the instruments’ tasks.