Job Discussion Forums

[Drizzt]

OK, here's the scenario. Day 1 of teaching went great at my new university, but now the administration is asking me to give an oral test tomorrow to 40 students who flunked from last year as a re-test. I wasn't really given any details, only to give the students a topic and about three minutes to speak, then I decide their grade.

The problem is I really haven't had time to assess their level of competence in oral English because I've only taught here for one day. My last job I taught at a high school, so this is my first experience with this level. They are second year students at a private language college.

Can any suggest some appropriate topics for this level? Should I limit it to one single topic out of fairness, or should I give multiple ones so other students won't let the secret out giving the latter students an unfair advantage?

Thanks for any tips!

[Don McChesney]

Depends on the age of the students, and roughly how good they are.
I would give about 10 topics for them to look at, and when they front up, give one of the ten. This way they don't have time to prepare one thing as a group. If they totally 'freeze' at the topic, ask them which one they want to do. This give an idea of their understanding questions, appropriate responses, knowledge etc etc. You will soon be able to work out what they know, as a group. I then offer a second go if they think they can improve their scores, especially to the first ones, when YOU are working out what they know.
Resits are often expected to 'pass', even if they haven't done any work to improve themselves.
I use open questions like "Tell me about . . . ."

[latefordinner]

Why are you doing this testing? Diagnostic testing at the beginning of the year makes sense, but are you retesting what they should have clearly passed or failed last year? Who wants the results, and why? I'm wondeing if management has already failed in one respect or another, and is hoping you'll either rescue them from their mistakes last year, or provide them with a scapegoat that they can conveniently blame for their failings. (worst case scenario)
DMcC, good idea to first give a selection of topics, then randomly assign one to each student at the last minute. If anyone objects (and no doubt a few will), point out that this is not middle school anymore. This is similar to how IELTS test are done. You don't know what the question is until you turn over the exam, and what the next person's question is is irrelevent. A lesson devoted to analysis of such an exam could be a terrific experience; especially if, as so many students in China, they've had thousands of exams, none of them worth anything.

[Drizzt]

Yes Don, a good suggestion, I think I might try that.

Latefordinner, I have no idea why I was asked to do this re-testing...I suspect it's because it's a way for the students who failed last semester to have a chance to advance to the next level, but that's just a guess. Like I said this was day 1 at a new school, so I'm still in the dark hehe.

[Drizzt]

By the way guys, I just came up with four possible topics...I just hope it's not too difficult for them. They have to speak for three minutes about one topic. I am taking Don's suggustion and will randomly pick one for each student to speak about. They will not have much preparation time in advance however. The topics are as follows:

1. What kind of impact will the 2008 Beijing Olympics have on China and why?

2. You are at a job interview. You have three minutes to convince me why I should hire you.

3. Our personalities are determined by our genes and the environment in which we live. Which do you think plays a bigger role in determining our personality? Defend your position.

4. Capital punishment is very controversial in many countries. Do you think the government has the right to execute people? Why or why not? Defend your position.

OK, so these kids are all about 20ish in their second year of college...do you guys think these topics are out of their league? I'm thinking of giving them the option to vote and eliminate one of the four, and then randomly select one of the three remaining for each student.

[Roger]

It's a horripilifying scenario, and it shows amply how China works.

I go along with Don in saying no any two or more students should have a chance at doing any prep together.

Here is my suggestion of a topic: CHEATING IN EXAMS! Alternatively: HOW TO CLEAN UP THIS AUGIAS STABLE IN CHINA'S EDUCATION!

Let me tell you my rationale for this topic: I found that this is a theme students can always identify with albeit from various different angles. Some will reluctantly say it doesn't "exist", but there is a huge body of publications that have reported on this fact of life here in China. You can also just put down some imaginary stats ("at least two out of 3 Chinese university sutdents cheat during final exams; how should Society cope with this?").

Secondly, if prodded on a little (gently) most will actually talk about this. I have learnt from hundreds of high-schoolers and tertiary level students how they cheated or cheat - in at least a dozen ways (crib notes wasn't the most commonly mentioned thing!).

You can vary the topic by inventing a situation in a school where a student was caught using illicit notes - a student who had missed class during the whole of the semester; the student can now give a well-reasoned explanation for his decision (and give his decision whether that student must take the exam a second time).

This topic requires very little preparation in terms of vocab acquisition!