Re: oral assessment

> From: "Merton Bland" <mert_bland-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> most scales are designed to measure general
> proficiency since it is generally accepted that
> proficiency in a language usually reqires the ability
> to communicate across the board. 

Sure they do. That's not at issue, as far as I understand this 
thread. From what has passed back and forth, let's be clear that
there are 3 distinct oral assessment processes that need to be 
addressed:

1st: Placement Testing;
2nd: Assessment and Evaluation of class taught material; and
3rd: Proficiency Level Testing.

Now, I'm sure you agree that all of these have their own level of
formality and expression. To my knowledge there are no schools 
that conduct their placement testing by requiring prospective 
students to take and IELTS type test. Nor is it my experience to
validate in class performance by such a method, there is no 
justifiable requirement for it, except where students require an
internationally recognised test score to validate some application
for further study or a job etc.

As such, Proficiency testing is a furphy and in most cases requires
a level of skill, experience and certification that most Oral
English instructors just don't have. As for the teacher starting
out in this field, the good advice we can give on this forum should
relate to practical advice:
for example,

How to placement test junior middle school students?
How to placement test mixed level adults?
Should we placement test kindergarden students? If so, how?

How to document student performance in the classroom?
How to evaluate individual performance in a noisy environment?
How to provide equitable assessments when 'big brother' is in 
the room?

> From: "Merton Bland" <mert_bland-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> And, no, we are not
> talking about specialized jargon like the language
> used in a hospital operating room, a factory
> production line, or the team huddle before the next
> kick-off.

Where did this come from? I would have thought that specialised
vocabulary is an essential factor in the evaluation of student
learning within a particualr class. There is no point in testing
a student's general knowledge about the environment, politics,
geography, the solar system etc., if they are doing a business
English class where such topics are not broached. This would
constitute unfair and inappropriate performance assessment.

Regards,

Tsc Tempest DCA
__________________________
People's Republic of China
Zhuhai SEZ, Guang Dong





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