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Universidad Católica de la Ssma. Concepción Pedagogía en Educación media en Inglés Evaluación de la Competencia Comunicativa en Inglés

Assessment:Assignment 4

Ana María LunaGuido Ignacio Riquelme

Concepción, 2014


Testing vocabulary

http://www.insightin.com/test/take_test.phtml

The online instrument selected is a multiple choice paraphrase; it’s designed to test vocabulary. This instrument is designed to measure the size of the vocabulary that a student possesses; therefore could be implemented as a proficiency test. Also, considering that this test is not related with vocabulary previously taught, it could be classified as a diagnostic test. Taking in consideration the words that should be paraphrased; the student level of performance should be around B2 and C1.

Regarding on Bachman & Palmer’s qualities (1997), to analyze this test from the point of view of practicability we need more context. It cannot be said that it is unpractical or very practical if we do not know the resources available, yet must be considered that this is an online test so computers and access to internet are basic, in order to implement this test. Reliability in this test in our opinion is arbitrary. For the reason that this test is not testing vocabulary that belongs to a same semantic field, it tests how wide or narrow the vocabulary of the student is. In terms of validity, this test has demonstrated that it measures what it is said is going to be measured, vocabulary. We agree that the degree of authenticity of this test is below high. Must be taken in consideration this task is not related with real world situations where students could make use of target language. To continue, the impact of the result of this test affects the micro group. With the results of this test, the students will be conscious of their level of performance in terms of vocabulary, and teachers could use those results as supporting evidence of their teaching practice, if they must take any decisions or correct students’ mistakes. To conclude with Bachman and Palmer’ qualities (1997), interactiveness we considered as medium/low. Instructions are not clear; probably it could have been more explicit in terms of what was expected from the student.

Finally, we decided to select this instrument because it is a very quick method to collect evidence. As quick as the teacher collects the evidence, decisions could be made, in terms of improving some semantic fields that were not successfully achieved by the students (If it is used as a diagnostic test). Also the format it is familiar to students. As there are advantages of using this instrument, there are also disadvantages. While students are working on the task, they can have access to the answer key that it is in the same web-page, yet we consider this instrument as a good instrument to be used with students.

http://www.insightin.com/test/take_test.phtml


Testing grammar

http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/

The online instrument selected to assess grammar is a blog with grammar activities based on movies segments. This instrument is designed to measure grammar knowledge of a student. It could be applied as a proficiency test because it could measure the level of English grammar. Moreover, it could be implementing as a diagnostic test to be aware of the English level that students have at the moment. According to the activities to do the level of student performance should be A1, A2 and B1.

According to Bachman & Palmer’s qualities (1997), to analyze this test from the point of view of practicality it is require the context in which the test will be implemented. We need the resources available to know if it is practical or not. Regarding to reliability we agree it measure the wide range of grammar knowledge of the students.

Validity in this test measure exactly what it is said is going to be measured, grammar. In terms of authenticity, it is authentic for the reason it integrates real world situations where students make use of target language. Regarding impact, it will affect the micro groups. According to their results students will be aware of their own development and level of English grammar, and also teachers will use the results in order to know who effective has been the teaching practice. Finally, in terms of interactiveness, we agree that it is medium/high for the reason the instructions are clear enough.

We decided to select this instrument to assess grammar for the reason it is useful in terms of collect information and it is an attractive way to foster student’s interest to learn. Furthermore, the formats of the exercises are familiar to students; therefore they will know what they have to do. Nevertheless, as a consequence of it is a test online, students could search on the internet and find the key answers. Even though, we consider it is a useful tool to measure how much students know and their results.

http://moviesegmentstoassessgrammargoals.blogspot.com/


References:

-Bachman, L. F. & Palmer, A. (1997). Language testing in practice: designing and developing useful

language tests. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press

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