Kazakh language knowledge level
assessment system - KAZTEST

Lexicon in system of language means is the main component of contents of learning; it is an initial and necessary building material of speech activity: listening and speaking, reading and writing. In order to achieve the positive results, it is necessary not only to conduct teaching but also to make measurement of level of knowing the language. Such kind of mechanism of measurement of the level of knowing the state language in the Republic of Kazakhstan is the KAZTEST system.

The native system KAZTEST includes measurement of test-taker’s communicative competences as it is made in the world language knowledge assessment practice. Methodical basis of the domestic system is grounded on the state standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan which define requirements to communicative competences of knowledge of the Kazakh language.

In practice learning the language is obligatorily accompanied with studying lexical minimums. Lexical minimum helps to increase word stock, to form active and passive vocabulary. The proposed lexical minimum is a minimum set of words and phrases corresponding to the requirements of each level of the Kazakh language knowledge: Elementary, Pre-intermediate, Intermediate, Upper-intermediate, Advanced. Minimum is aimed at self-study and evaluation of the level of the Kazakh language knowledge.

The minimum was composed in accordance with the principles of the world and European standards of teaching a foreign language as well as with taking into account public-social peculiarities of the Republic Kazakhstan. At elementary level the vocabulary includes…units, at pre-intermediate level –nearly… at intermediate -, at upper-intermediate-… units, at advanced level-…. units….

1.c RK 1926-2009 “ Communicative language competence in the Kazakh language. Elementary level. The general knowledge.

2.c RK 1928-2009 “ Communicative language competence in the Kazakh language. Pre-intermediate level level. The general knowledge.

3.c RK 1929-2009 “ Communicative language competence in the Kazakh language. Intermediate level. The general knowledge.

4.c RK 1925-2009 “ Communicative language competence in the Kazakh language. Upper-intermediate level The general knowledge.

5.c RK 1927-2009 “ Communicative language competence in the Kazakh language. Advanced level. The general knowledge.

Minimums of each level are based on the following major principles: the systemic principle, the principle of continuity, the development principle, the communication principle and the productivity principle.

The systemic lexical minimum has to promote to formation at learner skill of correct usage of words and word combinations of the Kazakh language, ability to connect words and word combinations, to correctly use lexical units in accordance with communication situations. This work comprises active words on various themes and vocabulary connected with environment and life. Minimums are composed on lexical stages and clustered in meaning and theme groups. Contents of all the stages are interconnected with each other in the definite succession. The first stage is represented by three parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, verbs. The second stage – numerals, pronouns, adverbs. The third stage – conjunctions and interjections. Proverbs and sayings of the Kazakh people and their Russian and English equivalents are grouped separately. Division of lexical units by parts of speech facilitates use of words in sentence since every part of speech fulfills definite function in the sentence. Words of every part of speech are divided into meaning groups and block with the aim of their effective learning. Blocks consist of words that are closely connected with each other by their meaning.

The lexical minimum of elementary level is the first stage of language learning. Words of this level are based on situations of everyday life. At the level learner has to know spoken language material used in everyday mode of life.

The lexical minimum of pre-intermediate (basic) level supposes correct usage of words in spoken communication that are selected in accordance with language situation and surrounding life.

Lexis of intermediate level is directed to the correct usage of stylistic units of language situation and surrounding life in accordance with literary norms.

The lexical minimum of upper-intermediate level supposes correct usage of active words and word combinations selected from various language situations and social life in literary style.

The lexical minimum of advanced level is directed to fluent use of lexical units concerning to different social spheres of life as well as to their literate use in literary, scientific and professionally oriented style. While increasing the level, words and word combinations are added with taking into account the principle of gradualness.

Minimum is aimed at self-study and evaluation of the level of the Kazakh language knowledge. Lexical minimum is made for learners of Kazakh as a second language, Kazakh as a foreign language; for preparation to the examination on the KAZTEST system, for teachers, authors of textbooks, researchers and scientists and students as well as for wide range of readers.