SSFB 4-5
The SSFB 4–5 (= language level assessment sheet ) is an observation instrument for recording the language competence of children in German who do not attend kindergarten and whose language level is determined by teachers in the kindergarten during half a day.
construction
The SSFB 4–5 consists of an observation sheet (Breit / Schneider, 2008a) and a manual (Breit / Schneider, 2008b) and is a short version of the BESK 4–5 (Breit / Schneider, 2008c). Before the introduction of the compulsory kindergarten year, the SSFB 4–5 was used to determine the language proficiency of children in Austria who are 15 months before school starts and are not attending any educational or care facility. You will be invited to a half-day taster day in a kindergarten and observed by the teachers, which is why it is a snapshot of language skills. The SSFB 4-5 consists of three parts (A-picture cards, B-Hidden Object Book and C-language behavior) and comprises nine observation criteria (cf. Breit / Schneider, 2008a, b).
Part A (face cards)
- Initial differentiation (phonology)
- Plural formation (morphology)
Part B (Hidden Object Book)
- Bowing (morphology)
- Second position of the finite verb in the declarative sentence (syntax)
- Verb lexicon (lexicon / semantics)
- Article: Use of the mandatory article (syntax)
- Identification of the grammatical gender of nouns (morphology)
- Understanding W-questions and answering them appropriately (lexicon / semantics)
Part C (speech behavior)
- Express needs and intentions (pragmatics / discourse)
evaluation
The nine observation criteria are assigned to five linguistic competence areas (lexicon / semantics, pragmatics / discourse, phonology, morphology, syntax) and highlighted in color on the observation sheet. For each criterion, the observer chooses between a three-level closed response categorization, which corresponds to a point gradation of 2, 1 or 0. After completing the observations, the result of each criterion is transferred to the evaluation profile at the end of the observation sheet and a total value is calculated. The evaluation profile provides information about the strengths and weaknesses of a child's German-language skills, the total value determines the need for support measures in the German-language area. Children with a point value of 12 or less have special needs, children with more than 12 points have no special need for language development in German (cf. Breit / Schneider, 2008a, b).
literature
- Breit, S./Schneider, P. (2008a). SSFB 4-5. Language level assessment sheet for 4- to 5-year-olds without institutional education and supervision as part of a half-day trial day in kindergarten. Salzburg: BIFIE. Available at: [1] or [2] (April 15, 2010)
- Breit, S / Schneider, P. (2008b). Manual SSFB 4–5. Salzburg: BIFIE. Available at: [3] or [4] (April 15, 2010)
- Breit, S./Schneider, P. (2008c). BESK 4-5 . Observation sheet for recording the language skills of 4- to 5-year-olds in educational and care facilities. Salzburg: BIFIE. Available at: [5] or [6] (April 15, 2010)