The Creation and Validation of the Arabic Vocabulary Levels Test (Arabic-VLT)
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| Title: | The Creation and Validation of the Arabic Vocabulary Levels Test (Arabic-VLT) |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Abdullah Alamer (ORCID |
| Source: | Language Assessment Quarterly. 2025 22(2):117-137. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 21 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Intended Audience: | Researchers; Practitioners |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Arabic, Vocabulary Development, Test Construction, Second Language Learning, Test Validity, Test Reliability, Word Frequency, Item Response Theory, Word Lists, Scores, Correlation, Second Language Instruction, Language Variation, Undergraduate Students, Foreign Countries, Pilot Projects |
| Geographic Terms: | Saudi Arabia |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15434303.2025.2477445 |
| ISSN: | 1543-4303 1543-4311 |
| Abstract: | This study introduces the first Arabic Vocabulary Levels Test (Arabic-VLT), created for foreign learners of Arabic. We present compelling evidence to substantiate its validity and reliability. The Arabic-VLT was developed according to five levels, beginning with the most frequently used words (Level 1) to the least frequently used ones (Level 5), taken from a reliable and well-known Arabic wordlist. Each level has 30 correct answers with a total of 150 marks. The Arabic-VLT was developed and assessed based on item response theory (IRT), specifically through the Rasch model following aspects of Messick's validation framework. We found that the items of the Arabic-VLT showed good reliability and validity via the Rasch model. In addition, students' scores on the test correlated positively with the period they spent learning Arabic, which supports the criterion validity of the Arabic-VLT. The introduction of Arabic-VLT as the first valid vocabulary knowledge test opens new avenues for experimental research in Arabic as an L2 language. We believe that researchers and practitioners can benefit from and replicate our findings. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1471896 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | This study introduces the first Arabic Vocabulary Levels Test (Arabic-VLT), created for foreign learners of Arabic. We present compelling evidence to substantiate its validity and reliability. The Arabic-VLT was developed according to five levels, beginning with the most frequently used words (Level 1) to the least frequently used ones (Level 5), taken from a reliable and well-known Arabic wordlist. Each level has 30 correct answers with a total of 150 marks. The Arabic-VLT was developed and assessed based on item response theory (IRT), specifically through the Rasch model following aspects of Messick's validation framework. We found that the items of the Arabic-VLT showed good reliability and validity via the Rasch model. In addition, students' scores on the test correlated positively with the period they spent learning Arabic, which supports the criterion validity of the Arabic-VLT. The introduction of Arabic-VLT as the first valid vocabulary knowledge test opens new avenues for experimental research in Arabic as an L2 language. We believe that researchers and practitioners can benefit from and replicate our findings. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1543-4303 1543-4311 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/15434303.2025.2477445 |
