Job Discussion Forums

[nik_knack0828]

I'll try to keep this short (unlike most of my posts).

I was told last week that I'll have to test my 65 Grade 3 (final year college students) on Wednesday morning. I will have 4 hours.

My problem is that I've only met about 15 of them.
This is the last semester of their last year, so they don't have to come to class. My first day (ever) I was expecting 65, had 11 (it was a VERY stressful class). Since that time I've had between 4 and 9. Usually closer to 4.

Since this was such a messed up class, I wasn't really expecting to have to test them, but, yup, it's required for them to get their diplomas (or whatever they get).
I've taught their class about 8 times. It's oral english, so I try to get them talking. Of the 15 (or so) I've seen, most have been fairly competent. Not fluent, but okay. I've had a couple that TOTALLY lack basic skills. I try to talk to them and they will just ignore me and blow air out their nose (weird) or just stare at me. Both of these students have only attended one class.
"Can you understand me?" Repeated (by me) 6 times.... No reply.
Slower "Can you understand what I'm saying?".... Repeated.... Nothing...
Ugh! They have, apparently, had more then 10 years of English education.
I don't want to fail anyone. If they're lacking in skills, it might have been caused by their previous teacher or just that they are shy.
Obviously, if they say nothing, I will have to fail them, but that's my last option.

Well, anyways, my reason for writing is to ask for advice.
I'm thinking I'll have about 4 minutes per student. During that time I'll give them a list of basic topics.

Tell me about your family/hometown
What would you do if you won a million dollars?
Tell me about a favourite event from your childhood
etc.

And either have them decide one or two they would like to answer or make them randomly choose the questions (no looking).

Maybe do this at the beginning, then give them a chance to think over their answers while waiting.

Then grade them based on
lower than 50% is totally incompetent (or no answer).

100% He/she doesn't have to check words and has no mistakes or long pauses.
And the rest between.

Another I idea I had (well, stole from the testing forum) is to have 2 of them discuss something. Maybe my questions above or some more controversal ideas.

I'm a little lost on this.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Oh, and, Roger, please don't post about how I'm using the wrong forum (like you always do when I ask for teaching advice on the "General Discussion" forum). I know it belongs on the "Testing Forum" and I would have posted it there, but no one would read it in time.
I only have 36 hours till test time.
Thanks anyways.


Hmmm... Not so short. Sorry, I'm long winded?

[khmerhit]

[arioch36]

Let them prepare their speeches in advance!!! No more then two minutes!!!


I believe in strong standards. Right now I am teaching 6 freshman classes, and I am having the school expel two students for never coming to classes (don't know if it will happen, but the school did call their parents.

In your case, I would let it ride. Give all of them a passing grade. In CHina, the fourth (third) year, students are not expected to be in class, they are actively encouraged to find a job. The students that come might be the ones who want to go to graduate school, or maybe are to lazy to look for work.

In fact, in schools like this (3 year) the students are required to have done some kind of training with a company. I've been gone from America too long, what do we call it, not apprenticship, but... internship, yes, these students have to do an internship, get it stamped, etc.


Let this one go. Give them all at least a 60. four minutes is way too long. You only need a minute to know what grade to give them. Use two, if you feel a need to. A two minute speech will take at least three minutes.

Don't don't grade them all at the same time. Tell someone from the class (that speaks English) to divide them selves into four groups (or more) of 20, 15, 15, 15 and stagger them. (Some of the 20 will come later anyways)

Pas everyone, but don't give 90s (90's) to anyone but the best. Your topics are fine. Here is one I use...tell me something important that happened to you.

Oh, don't devise any fancy grading scheme. Just make sure you have the right student number, listen to them, and put down the grade that sounds right.


Really, I am all for strong academic standards, but this is just a paperwork issue. Just save the good marks for the handful of good students.

Two minute at the most.

Oh, to me the two people talking more aggravation then it is worth in a situation like this. You will end up spending all your time explaining things.

DEFINITELY ... let them prepare the speech a head of time (redundant, yes) Their ENglish isn't good enough for ad lib speeches or questions. Let them end their college career with a little face, and save your self the pain of listening to silence. Give them the topics tomorrow. Let them prepare. They can not hide bad english in a prepared speech.

[Afra]

1) 1 minute for personal information - as unprompted as possible.

2) 2/3 minutes to complete a task - i.e. explain why they would do something, what present they would choose for their sister.

3) 2/3 minutes to give an opinion on a topic you choose for them, make it simple.
Grade them 1-5, 3 is pass.

Look for grammar, pronunciation, discourse management. If you do this in pairs, Part 2 is a joint task and you can then grade interactive communication.

Just passing them won't help down the line.

Good luck!

[nolefan]

Hey Nikki,

I have the same issue with one of my classes! I almost lost it one day when I walked in and saw only 7 out of my 24 kids...I tried threatening to call their parents, to fail them, etc...nothing helps! Now, I just let them be!
The handful that shows up tries hard to learn and I am happy to deal with just a small amount of kids!

Anyways, this is what I did for their exams:

4 mn conversation with a classmate on the topic of their choice! they have one week to prepare for it.
after the conversation, the rest of the class should ask them questions about teh topic..if they don't ask any, I do!

it seems to work! good luck and e-mail me if you need help!

[Stephen Jones]

Incompetent or no answer should be zero, not lower than 50%.

[guest of Japan]

Test them on only the things you covered in class. Create a rubric to assess their skills.

[FGT]

Assess them in pairs (they choose their partner).
Start with very basic stuff : What's your name? Where are you from? Can you spell your surname/hometown?
Give them a task where one has to ask the other questions and vice versa. This a) gives you a chance to sit back and listen while assessing and b) allows for an opportunity for them to interact.
Give each of them a descriptive task and then try to develop a discussion from that.
Do not be afraid of failing those that can't/won't produce language. If the majority haven't turned up for class all year this may mean that they know it all and consider the class beneath them; or they are plonkers! If they produce a very limited amount of language, they should get an accordingly limited number of marks. Don't award the plonkers any marks at all!!!

[ls650]

Why are you reluctant to fail the bad stu