There are three standards to evaluate the language performance of one speaker. The three standards are accuracy, fluency and complexity. Different focus on different aspects may result in different outcome of the language performance. Before we come to the standards of evaluation of language performance, let‘s talk about the definition of the three standards.

Accuracy and complexity mean the degree of accuracy and complexity of the language form while the fluency means whether one has unnecessary pauses when he is expressing something. The attention of a person is limited and the learners can not pay attention to many things at the same time. Many foreign students say they may be distracted when they take one-on-one Chinese learning programs. The situation is common. In fact, the learners would neglect some details in the practical language application due to the limited attention. They often lose some certain aspects in order to achieve another aspect. The common errors are like the following.

First, the Chinese learners will deliberately avoid some complex grammar forms to make fewer mistakes or avoid making mistakes. They incline to choose some language form or expression which is in simple from or which they are familiar with. The accuracy of the grammar is improving but the complexity is reducing. Second, the learners who learn Chinese will put more emphasis on the language form to seek for accuracy. Those will spend more time dealing with every single word or phrase. Thus, they will pause in the language performance and the speed slows down as well as the incoherence of the tone. This kind of language performance sees the improving of the accuracy but the lowing of the fluency. Third, the learners may speak freely and fluently, but the sentences are full of grammatical mistakes and the listeners are all at a loss. The fluency is improving but the results and quality of communication is damaged.

The evaluation of the language performance should be the combination of the factors of accuracy, complexity and fluency. But specific cases should be considered in specific context. In writing, there are problems of accuracy and complexity. The fluency of the writing is reflected on the time or speed of the completing the task. The article which is written in half an hour and another article which is written in one night are different. Though they are similar regarding to accuracy and complexity, the language level of the learners can not be the same.