Language Assessment Tools

In order to better support partner employers and the Home Care Aides they employ, the Training Partnership has created an optional tool to better determine what language a worker may be most successful in when taking the Department of Health Home Care Aide Certification Exam.

The exam is offered in 5 languages in addition to English. Additionally, workers may request the test be read aloud to them if their independent reading ability is not strong. These requests must be made at the time the application is sent in. (See this page for additional detail on the application process.) Employers may choose to use the following language assessment tool to inform these requests.

What is the purpose of this tool?

The goal of this informal language assessment is to help you, the employer, make recommendations to your workers if they are best suited to take training and the DOH certification exam in English, or another language. It is not required, but a tool the Training Partnership hopes you will find helpful in preparing your newly hired worker for success.

What is included in this tool?

There are three downloadable documents: a Facilitator Packet, Test A, and Test B. The facilitator packet includes instructions for both parts of the test, a level placement guide which will use the test scores as a predictor for the worker's readiness to take the DOH exam in English, and the answer key to test A. Test A is a written test completed by the worker which includes two listening portions, a vocabulary portion and a reading portion. This test is to be printed for the worker. Test B is the speaking and listening portion which scores workers on listening comprehension, spoken complexity and pronunciation. This test is printed for the facilitator to use in conversation with the worker.

How long will it take to give this language assessment to a worker?

Test A should take a worker 20-40 minutes, or approximately 5-10 minutes for each section. You can test more than one worker during this time. Test B should take no longer than 10 minutes per worker being tested. So in less than a hour for a single worker, an employer should be able to proctor and score the tests and read the placement guide for a predictor about that worker's ability to take training and the certification exam in English.

Do I need special training to use this tool?

No. All the directions you need are in the Facilitator Packet. Just be sure to apply timing and scoring consistently for all workers to keep the predictors in the level guide consistent. If you have any questions or suggestions on how to improve this tool, please email research@myseiubenefits.org.

Download the Facilitator Packet

Downlaod Test A_English Assessment

Download Test B_English Assessment