My main research interests are language testing, and reading and listening in a second/foreign language. In recent research, I have focused on a) cognitive & affective factors and processes in language testing, b) methodology in language testing research, and c) language assessment literacy. I also 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 language testing, second language reading and listening. Topic areas covered by my current and graduated PhD students include: testing listening/reading/speaking/language-in-use, testing integrated skills, language assessment literacy training, rating, and test validation.
My main research interests are language testing, and reading and listening in a second/foreign language. In recent research, I have focused on:
A. Cognitive and affective factors and processes in testing:
- reading (e.g. Brunfaut, 2022; Brunfaut, Kormos, Michel & Ratajczak, 2021; Kremmel, Brunfaut & Alderson, 2017)
- listening (e.g. Brunfaut & Revesz, 2015; Revesz & Brunfaut, 2013; Brunfaut, 2016)
- writing (e.g. Michel, Kormos, Brunfaut & Ratajczak, 2019; Brunfaut, Harding & Batty, 2018)
- integrated skills (e.g. Kormos, Brunfaut & Michel, 2020; Rukthong & Brunfaut, 2020; Brunfaut & Rukthong, 2018)
B. Methodology in language testing research
C. Language test development
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 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 Methods for Language Testing
- 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:
Brunfaut, T. (2021). Through the eyes of the reader: The use of eye-tracking to advance insights into reading in another language. Symposium keynote. International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA), Groningen (The Netherlands; online).
Brunfaut, T., & Harding, L. (2021). International language proficiency standards in the local context: Interpreting the CEFR in standard setting for exam reform in Luxembourg. European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA). online.
Brunfaut, T. (2020). Garbage in, garbage out: Assessing data collection instruments. Keynote. IRG2020 Symposium: From data to knowledge in the language sciences. Fribourg/Freiburg (Switzerland).
Brunfaut, T. (2019). What’s in a measure? Validity in L2 complexity research. Keynote. Colloquium: Broadening the scope of L2 complexity research. VUB Brussels (Belgium).
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).
Follow me on Twitter.
For more information, please visit my Academia or Research Gate page.
