Unit 15 Assessment in Language Teaching

Aims of the Unit - to understand the purpose for assessment; - to learn the methods for assessment; - to study criteria for assessment; - to get to know the principles of assessment; - to understand the role of testing in language assessment

I. Assessment Purpose The people involved in education have some reasons to consider assessment necessary: Administrators need to know whether the programmes they have planned are working well. Teachers need to know what has been done and what needs to be done next Parents value the feedback about their children’s performance from the teachers and the school. Students need to know what they have accomplished, be aware of what they need to work on next and build up their confidence from what they have achieved.

II. Assessment Methods Teacher’s assessment Continuous assessment Students’ self-assessment Portfolios

III. Assessment Criteria 1. Criterion-referenced assessment Criterion-referenced language assessment is based on a fixed standard or a set criterion. 2. Norm-referenced assessment Norm-referenced assessment is designed to measure how the performance of a particular student or group of students compares with the performance of another student or group of students whose scores are given as the norm. 3. Individual-referenced assessment Individual-referenced assessment is based on how well the learner is performed relative to his or her own previous performance.

IV. Assessment Principles Assess authentic use of language in reading, speaking, listening and writing; Assess authentic use of language in reading, speaking, listening and writing; Assess literacy and language in a variety of contexts; Assess literacy and language in a variety of contexts; Assess the environment, the instruction, and the students; Assess the environment, the instruction, and the students; Assess processes as well as products; Assess processes as well as products; Analyse patterns of errors in language and literacy; Analyse patterns of errors in language and literacy; Be based on normal developmental patterns and behaviour in language and literacy acquisition; Be based on normal developmental patterns and behaviour in language and literacy acquisition; Clarify and use standards when assessing reading, writing and content knowledge; Clarify and use standards when assessing reading, writing and content knowledge; Involving students and parents, as well as other personnel in the assessment process; Involving students and parents, as well as other personnel in the assessment process; Be an ongoing part of every day. Be an ongoing part of every day.

V. Testing in Assessment Questions and answers Questions and answers True or false questions True or false questions Multiple-choice questions Multiple-choice questions Gap-filling completion Gap-filling completion Matching questions Matching questions Dictation Dictation Transformation Transformation Translation Translation Essay writing Essay writing Interview Interview