TESTING AND LANGUAGE TEACHING

Why should we test? What can we test? How can we test?

WHY SHOULD WE TEST? (Backwash Effect) A) Benefits for the Students B) Benefits for the Teacher

BENEFITS FOR THE TEACHER (Backwash effect ) - Teachers see how well they have reached their goals and objectives. - Tests help the teacher construct new goals and objectives for the next year. - They can define their rotes for the next step. - They can collect ideas about the instruction material for the next year. - Good tests can enhance class motivation and aid learning.

BENEFITS FOR THE STUDENT

BACKWASH EFFECT: The Effect of Tests on Teaching and Learning

BUT !!! This effect could either be (+) or (-)

IF YOU WANT POSITIVE EFFECTS 1) Test the abilities that you want your students to improve 2) Your tests must fit course objectives, aims, and content. 3) Make your students familiar with the test item type you’re going to use in your test. 4) Get feedback from your sts about your tests. 5) Adjust the difficulty level of your tests. Too difficult = Frustration Too easy = Lack of challenge

WHAT CAN WE TEST ?

WE CAN TEST LANGUAGE AREAS Vocabulary Grammar Pronunciation

WE CAN TEST LANGUAGE SKILLS Reading Listening Speaking Writing

YOU CAN USE THE SAME SKILL HOW CAN WE TEST? YOU CAN USE THE SAME SKILL E.g. To test Writing, use writing To test speaking, use speaking. …etc

LEARN NEW TEST ITEM TYPES

MULTIPLE CHOICE

MULTIPLE CHOICE HAS BOTH ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES OF MULTIPLE CHOICE 1) Easy and Timesaving for the teacher to check and grade if s/he has large number of students. 3) Good for testing receptive skills (Reading and listening) and the language areas Grammar and Vocabulary. 2) Easy for the students to answer (They just tick or mark the correct alternative). 3) High rate of objectivity. (The same grade for every one)

DISADVANTAGES OF MULTIPLE CHOICE 1) Limited to test productive skills. (Speaking, Writing) 2) Easy to cheat during the administration of the test. (You may group sts to prevent cheating).

KINDS OF TEST AND TESTING

CONTRASTING CATAGORIES OF ESL / EFL TEST Knowledge Tests vs. Performance Tests Subjective Tests Objective Tests Productive Tests Receptive Tests Language Subskill Tests Communication Skills Tests Norm-referenced Tests (Students are compared to each other ) Criterion-referenced Tests (Students are rated against certain standards) Discrete-point Tests Integrative tests Proficiency Tests (Measures overall mastery of Language) Achievement Tests (These tests measure sts’ progress in a certain program)

DIAGNOSTIC TESTS

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING: Students’ weaknesses ??? strengths ?????

PLACEMENT TESTS

PLACEMENT TESTS Placement tests are used to place students in the appropriate level of language classes. This is necessary to create homogeneous classes

DIRECT TESTING VS. INDIRECT TESTING

DIRECT TESTING

DIRECT TESTING We test the skill which we want our sts to perform. E.g. To test their pronunciation, we get them to speak.

INDIRECT TESTING

INDIRECT TESTING attempts to measure the abilities which underlie the skills in which we are interested in. Sometimes, the teacher uses dialogue completion to test students’ speaking. The skill used in the test is writing but the aim is to test speaking. KPDS uses indirect testing for speaking. Remember any test items???? (Which alternative best fits the blank in the dialogue