Discussed are problems to consider and possible techniques to use in assessing the English speaking skills of bilingual children. Reviewed is literature on the reasons for differences in ease of acquisition of English speaking skills among bilingual children (such as personality variables) and on inadequacies of existing language assessment instruments. Six means of assessing English speaking skills among nonnatives (such as the Bilingual Syntax Measure) are described briefly, and four suggestions for assessment (such as use of an eclectic approach) are offered. (LS)