My main research interests are language testing, and reading and listening in a foreign language. In recent research, I have focused on:
- diagnosing second and foreign language proficiency (see Alderson, Brunfaut & Harding, 2015 [ILTA Best Article Award]; Harding, Alderson & Brunfaut, 2015)
- using eyetracking to investigate reading processes (see Brunfaut, 2016; Brunfaut & McCray, 2015; McCray & Brunfaut, 2018)
- delivery mode effects of language tests (see Brunfaut, Harding & Batty, 2018 [eAssessment Award for Best Research])
- the role of phraseological knowledge in reading (see Kremmel, Brunfaut & Alderson, 2017)
- the role of task and listener characteristics in second language listening assessment (see Brunfaut & Revesz, 2015; Revesz & Brunfaut, 2013; Brunfaut, 2016)
I am a recipient of the ILTA Best Article Award, the e-Assessment Award for Best Research, and the TOEFL Outstanding Young Scholar Award.
I regularly conduct language test development and consultancy work for professional and educational bodies around the world.
I am especially interested in supervising PhD students in the area of diagnosis in second or foreign language assessment (see http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/ltrg/projects/dialang-2-0/), and in language testing and second language reading and listening more generally. Topics covered by my current and graduated PhD students include: testing listening (e.g., listening-to-write and listening-to-speak tasks, academic listening needs), testing reading (e.g., reading item difficulty and processing, reading test specifications, reading-to-write tasks, reading test washback), language assessment literacy training (e.g., of item writers, teacher trainers), test development (e.g., item writer guidelines, item writing, rating scales), testing Language-in-Use, test validation (e.g. of university admissions tests).
I teach on the MA in Language Testing (online), the MA TESOL (online) and the MA in Applied Linguistics and TESOL (campus-based):
- Language Test Construction and Evaluation
- Classroom Language Assessment
- Exploring Language Constructs
- Issues in Language Testing
- Research Issues in Applied Linguistics
- Statistical Analyses for Language Testing
On the undergraduate programmes, I contribute to:
- Introduction to Linguistics
During summer, I teach on the Language Testing at Lancaster summer school.
Research Group:
I coordinate the Language Testing Research Group, together with my colleagues Luke Harding and John Pill.
Some recent presentations:
Harding, L., & Brunfaut, T. (2019). Trajectories of language assessment literacy in a teacher-researcher partnership: Locating elements of praxis through narrative inquiry. Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), Atlanta (USA).
Rossi, O., & Brunfaut, T. (2019). Towards social justice for item writers: Empowering item writers through language assessment literacy training. Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), Atlanta (USA).
Brunfaut, T., Kormos, J., Michel, M., & Ratajczak, M. (2018). Computer-based testing of integrated skills: The role of young learners’ working memory and task motivation. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), Bochum (Germany).
Brunfaut, T., Harding, L., & Batty, A.O. (2018). Paper-based versus computer-based writing assessment: Investigating equivalence on integrated and independent tasks. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA), Bochum (Germany).
Brunfaut, T. (2018). Developing language assessment literacy and practices: Learning from the Austrian Matura experience. Symposium - Reforming the Austrian Matura: 10 years on. University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Brunfaut, T. (2018). Completing integrated tasks online: the test-taker experience. Invited talk. British Association of Applied Linguistics (BAAL) TEASIG, Nottingham, UK.
Brunfaut, T. (2017). Language assessment literacy development: Insights and experiences from working with teachers. Public lecture. Institute for Multilingualism, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Brunfaut, T. (2017). More than meets the eye: the use of eye-tracking in test validation research. Invited talk. Institute of Education, University College London (UK).
Harding, L., Brunfaut, T., & Unger, J. (2017). Enhancing security, preventing mobility? An analysis of the UK Secure English Language Testing policy. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment conference (EALTA), Sèvres (France).
Brunfaut, T., & Harding, L. (2017). Methodological and theoretical innovations in language testing. Multilingualism: language teaching and testing symposium, Ghent (Belgium).
