Research projects
International students project 'Increasing The English language competence of overseas students is the production of an IELTS briefing document/online resources for all staff. A research project headed by Professor Claire Furneaux (DELAL) and in conjunction with Dr Karin Whiteside (ISLI) and Mr Sebastian Watkins (ISLI).
The impact of fluency in the TEEP Speaking Test with Dr Parvaneh Tavakoli (DELAL)
The development of an undergraduate level TEEP at NUIS, Malaysia and the University of Reading
Background
I began teaching in September 1969. Initially I taught French, History and, from 1975, English. I have been involved in EAP full-time since 1980. It was while working in Zambia (1972-86) that I became involved in language testing by heading regional marking teams for the Copperbelt Region of Zambia. I then worked for one year in Saudi Arabia (1988-9) after completing my MA at Reading.
I first began working at the University in 1988 immediately after my MA (Applied Linguistics). I worked every summer on the pre-sessional and did some sessional work until July 2000, when I became a full-time member of staff.
I am an avid reader and love the countryside. I like walking long distances and I like to keep fit. I also love music and have a large collection of CDs and vinyl ranging through blues, rock, country, folk and classical. I waste a lot of time on cryptic crosswords with about 50% success rate of completion.
Awards and honours
University Teaching Fellow, May 2018
Selected publications
Slaght, J. & Harbin, P (2004). English for Academic Study: reading. Reading: Garnet Publishing
Slaght, J & Howell, D.M. (2007). 'The role of TEEP as a Course-Driven Assessment Measure on a Pre-sessional Programme' BALEAP/SATEFL Joint conference: New Approaches to Materials Development for language learning
Slaght, J & Howell, D.M. (2007). Action research into pre-sessional students' differentiation of Assessments. BALEAP Conference Proceedings 2007: Garnet Education.
McCormack, J & Slaght, J. (2009 & 2012 revised edition). Extended Writing and Research Skills. Reading: Garnet Publishing
Slaght, J. (2011). 'Lead role or supporting act? The status of computer-based testing in EAP assessment' Proceedings of the 2009 BALEAP Conference. Reading: Garnet Education.
Slaght, J (2012). English for academic studies: Reading: Garnet Publishing. Reading: UK.
Slaght, J (2012). Authenticity and need in the design of reading into writing tests'. Proceedings of the 2011 BALEAP Conference. Reading: Garnet EducationJune 2016 Southampton University English as a Medium of Instruction PIM: Syllabus Driven Assessment: not an assessment driven syllabus.
July 2016 University of Reading BAAL PIM: I was a panel member on the assessment symposium.
November 2016 Language Testing Forum. University of Reading: I gave the introductory talk and was the organiser with Bruce Howell.
November 2016 University of Glasgow: BALEAP PIM: Learner Identity: Managing Transitions.
January 2017 Universities of Bristol & Bath: I ran the Item Writing for language tests workshop.
February 2017 University of Northampton:Language Assessment PIM
March 2017 University of Edinburgh: BALEAP PIM
April 2017 BALEAP Biennial Conference (Bristol): I ran the Language testing and item writing workshop. I was also on an international panel of 4 on language testing at the same conference.
May 2017 University of Kent: I ran the Item Writing for language tests workshop
November 2017 Language Testing Forum University of Huddersfield: Language knowledge: a reliable predictor of performance in language tests further developments?
November 2017 Newcastle University: I ran the Item Writing for language tests workshop.
May 2018 University of Glasgow: Language Testing Workshop.
June 2018 University of Coventry: Language testing Workshop.
November 2018 University of Luxembourg: Language Testing Workshop.
