Assessment is, in my opinion an effective method of ensuring students' learning in the classroom. However, the effective teacher will vary their assessments to meet the needs of the diverse group of students. It is very important that the test focus on authentic material, as should all components of a foreign language class. That being said there are usually specific objectives in each unit or chapter of a given textbook that must be tested. The teacher needs to assess all students in the most equitable ways possible There are many creative ways to test even the required components. An example may be the use of interactive skits as a way of assessing students oral abilities.
I feel it is very important to have a variety of methods for a teacher to test a student's learning abilities. I have always been very successful in my foreign-language classes but I'm most successful in my oral assessments.
I certainly think that there are most definitely students that don't test as well as others. Some students have testing anxiety and may know the material inside and out but when it comes to to testing they mayfreeze and not be able to remember a thing.
I think the most effective test would test all four skills while certainly including a cultural component. In terms of format, the test will include at least multiple-choice, matching and filling in the blank and short answer. Each of these would have it's own section on the test. Listening is also a critical component to test. In terms of the most effective method to ensure students are successful, I would probably use either multiple-choice or true false. I would also allow the students to respond in English since I am not testing their ability to write but more importantly I want to test comprehension.
I like that you added the importance of the effectiveness of the teacher in giving the assessment. I think that the way in which the teacher teaches is what helps prepare the student for the assessment. Teachers who lecture and have no variety would likely give a written exam, but if the teacher uses a variety of teaching and learning methods, then they are likely to test the students in that fashion as well. I also agree with testing the four components of a foreign language, but I like that you added a cultural component. It might be challenging to do on some quizzes or if the assessment is smaller, but I think that culture is something that should be assessed. I was talking recently to some teachers who are Canadian citizens, and they were talking about the test that they had to take to get U.S. citizenship, and I realized that many U.S. citizens wouldn't be able to answer a lot of those questions anyways. I think that we should teach culture whenever possible.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that the multiple choice/fill in the blank type tests work better for lower level or advanced students? I think they work well for beginners, but I feel that a more open ended test is required to understand the level of advanced students.
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