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[cera]

Hello


I am an TESL student and I need to interview an ESL teacher about their testing practices.

Please, could somebody answer to a few basic questions:

1. What course do you teach: adult, kids and beginner, intermmediate, advance ?

2. Do you test them at the beginning of the course to see their english level ?

3. Do you use a final exam ?

4. How are the tests: written, orals, etc

5. could you describe the test shortly ?

Thank you so much

[wulfrun]

1. What course do you teach: adult, kids and beginner, intermmediate, advance ?

University students in China - intermediate.


2. Do you test them at the beginning of the course to see their english level ?

Not formally. I go on their previous teachers' reports, the usual English level of students in their major and year of study, and English exam pass rates if available. Then do some informal gauging of ability throughout the term.


3. Do you use a final exam ?

Yes. The final grade is out of 50 marks - 15 for the exam, 20 for in-class performance during the term, 15 for attendance.



4. How are the tests: written, orals, etc

5. could you describe the test shortly ?

Oral. A little like IELTS speaking part 2 and part 3. I give them a list of 30 different questions three weeks before the exam, e.g. - "How has the earthquake changed your perspective on life?", "Is China getting happier?", "What would you want to have with you on a desert island, and why?", "Should the Chinese education system be changed? If so, how?" These are for more advanced classes. For less advanced classes, I'll use "Describe your hobbies", "family", "favourite foods", "hometown", etc.

On the day of the exam, one of the 30 questions is picked randomly for a student. She has one minute to prepare. She will then talk to me, one-to-one, for three minutes about the topic.

I use IELTS descriptors to grade it. (IELTS is 0-9, so I'll multiply by 1.67 to get the ratio out of 15.)

[cera]

Thank you for your answer.

It is great

[cera]

Hello


Please, I forgot two more questions:
How do you know your students are improving ?
Do you use informal testing everyday ? ( like questions in the class and positive/negative feedback ) and how do you mark them for in-class performance ....the grammar level, the vocabulary, the appropriateness of the topic ?

Thanks a lot

[wulfrun]

hi

personally, i'm a little lax on directly testing whether students are improving. it's something i'll do more of, next time.

i assess in-class performance in every class. i have a list of their names and a clipboard, and write letters each time one of them impresses - 'S' for lots of speaking, 'V' for good vocab, 'P' for good pronunciation, 'E' for enthusiasm, 'Q' for questions, 'C' for cultural or creative input, 'T' for teamwork and helping others, 'F' for giving me feedback.

[cera]

thank you so much

your answers helped me a lot