Teacher Discussion Forums

[labonteesl]

Assessing new students is relatively easy is you have a method to judge conversation skills. I've put together a list of the most commonly used conversations patterns. Ask the students random questions with the patterns and see if they are able to respond to you with a complete sentence using the identical pattern. If they don't answer your question with the same pattern, you can immediately identify where they need help. It is a quick way to assess basic conversation skills.
Here is the list: http://labonteesl.webs.com/freepatterns.htm
You need 8 1/2 x 14 paper to print it out.

Thanks
Don La Bonte

[longshikong]

As I replied to Don's other post on assessment, I don't see much value in using these patterns for assessment but getting students to practice using them in meaningful contexts should be something that we as TEFLers should consider.

By the way, Don, what's your source for these?