LPI-DE stops working

[kara at lpi.org]

On Tue, 30 Jul 2002, Gabriel Krabbe wrote:

> On Tue, Jul 30, 2002 at 07:32:44PM +0200, MPW wrote:
> > Hallo together!!!
> > 
> > I don't unterstand the whole problem with the german translation. I think
> > nobody needs it. Everyone who needs a IT-Certification (not only a Linux
> > Cert), should be able to unterstand the tests (the english in the most tests
> > isn't really so difficult, that you need native speaker near skills, or so
> > on). 
> 
> The short, generic answer is: Yes, so much in this field is in english
> that a rudimentary understanding is de facto a requirement. Never mind
> the philosophical point of whether it /should/ be, that's not the point
> - tests are to certify knowledge of the subject being tested. In this
> case, the subject is not english, and just because someone can make
> sense of which option does what in an english man page does not mean
> that he can differentiate finer nuances - nuances being the very point
> of multiple choice questions. 

Our psychometric analysis of exams has shown poorer performance on the 
exams for non-native English speakers.  It is this purpose alone which has
driven me, now responsible for this development, to invite more non native 
english speaking supporters to help us develop the English versions, both 
to assist non-native english exam takers, and to prepare the English 
version for future translation.  (e.g. latin based english versus 
anglo-saxon based english does not translate the same).

Therefore, there is no discussion needed to determine if the ultimate goal 
is to have translated exams.  The issue has been administration, 
development, and funding.  To be properly developed, a translated exam 
-should- be market tested, and also reverse translated by yet another 
party to ensure quality.  It isn't as simple as translating a website, and 
is the reason that we don't have 150 languages of our exams already.  In 
addition, as the testing vendors require english based exam source, the 
tedious work involved requires my time and assistance, which is limited, 
and cannot be delegated to a non-licensed party.  All that time and money 
adds up beyond what is realized.

We're getting there though :-)

-- 
Kara Pritchard                          Phone: 618-398-7360
Director of Exam Development            http://www.lpi.org/
--