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Mapping of second language students in upper secondary education

By Helene Winsents

When a new second language student comes into your classroom, it is important to find out what language level they are at.

If a student needs special language instruction, the student must be assessed with a view to individual decisions. However, assessment is also important in order to determine which curriculum the student should follow. Is this a student who should follow the curriculum in basic Norwegian (NOR7-01), or is this a student who can follow the curriculum for linguistic minorities with a short residence in Norway (NOR9-02)?

Step-by-step recipe

Here is a step-by-step guide on what you can do to map out and get started with teaching at the right level:

  1. Norwegian Plus Placement Test (takes 30 – 60 min)
  2. Udir's survey materials (with guidance)
  3. Curriculum in basic Norwegian (NOR7-01)
  4. Norsk Pluss VGS level 1, 2 or 3 (depending on the result of the placement test)

Udir's survey materials

The Norwegian Directorate of Education does not say anything about which mapping tools can or should be used to map minority language students' Norwegian skills. Previously, the Norwegian teacher was required to follow the Mapping Material Language Competence in Basic Norwegian, but it is now only suggested as one of several mapping tools. The advantage of this mapping material is that it follows the curriculum in Basic Norwegian, and can also be used as an ongoing assessment.

Right level

For a quick indication of the student's level, it is a good idea to use the Norsk Pluss Placement Test . It provides an indication of the student's level in Norwegian language learning. If the student is above 73 percent at one level in the test, he or she can move on to the next level. If not, the student should continue working at the current level. If the student is between A1 and B1, Udir's mapping material should be used to find out more about the student's level. This material and Norsk Pluss VGS levels 1, 2 and 3 follow the Basic Norwegian Curriculum (NOR7-01).

Ready for a short stay?

If the student passes level B1 on the test, the student may have good enough Norwegian skills to follow the curriculum for short-term residence (NOR9-02). This is up to the teacher to decide.

Helene Winsents is an experienced course leader and teacher of Norwegian as a second language in upper secondary education. She is co-author of the online learning tool NorskPluss Kort botid, and has used NorskPluss VGS and NorskPluss Placement Test with introductory classes at Sandnessjøen Upper Secondary School for many years. The school gained access after Nordland entered into a county agreement in 2013.