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Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Why not?

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Edit: Nevermind, you are who you are. LOL. Read my signature for more insight. Rolling Eyes

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Obviously no, assuming you have graded students on other aspects during the year, i.e. class participation (including attendance), homework, classwork, and quizzes.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 10:33 pm Post subject:

Not such a crazy question. It really depends on the goal of the course. I've taught a lot of occupational English at one time or another - and sometimes - yes, the final exam is the criteria test - that equals the grade for the course.

If I am teaching an air traffic controller or a pilot English - I'm not too sure that I care about his participation in class - but I do I want to KNOW that he KNOWS the language she or he is to use on the job. Same might go for front office staff at a five star hotel or a doctor at an international hospital?

All this though - would of course depend on how thorough your final examinations would be.

Might not be too much different from sitting the bar exam - or other occupational entry exams?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Student mastery of the material is the goal and no they have not been graded thus far. My students agreed that it is fair, all have risen to the occasion, entire classes of students communicating orally in English. Talk about a zone, it is almost melodic; students raising their hands, excusing themselves and asking me to help them while I stroll about the room handing out tokens and grooving to Cafe del Mar. As for the test itself, it comes from the publisher and is thorough Ted. Thanks for the remarks by the way, you are very kind.
Enjoy,
s

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

So any student who has test anxiety issues will likely be doomed. We tell them all the time, don't worry about making mistakes, just make sure that people understand the meaning. And if at first you can't communicate what you want, try other approaches.

A single test puts a lot of pressure on them all at once. The test may be from the publisher, but have you trialed it in the past with other classes that you've taught?

I would say that it's totally unfair. If I were taking French at a university in Canada and the prof told me this, I would immediately transfer to a different section or drop the course all together.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Test has been trialed and the only pressure is on students who have been taking the piss. They may also take the test as many times as they like. That and they may raise their scores by collecting tokens which they receive for using English. They knew from the start, master the text.
Enjoy,
s

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

That context changes things, though I would say it is not usual. For people who get test anxiety, basing the whole grade on the test seems unfair.

The comparison with air traffic controller or pilot English is a pretty narrow use, and of course it would be critical to get it right (as the Berlitz commercial with the German coast guard shows).

Most language tests are not measuring such a narrow or specialized usage, hence the test wouldn't be nearly comprehensive enough. I am assuming you're not teaching one of these groups, right Sweetsee?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

No, I'm not GA. I'm teaching the same students you are, just a little younger. You'd be surprised at the results I have managed, really a major breakthrough.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

No suicides threatened yet because of test anxiety yet Rolling Eyes

? Of course, better than students going 'postal' (though this is Japan, going samurai might be more likely)!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Many kids at this school are happy if they score above 30%, for them test anxiety is an oxymoron. Afterall, ignorance is bliss. And call it what you will but you would not believe the results, suddenly every one is on task and a burden has been lifted from my shoulders and place squarely where it belongs, on the student.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Could you please delete your last post so that I can delete mine? That shouldn't be too much trouble and then we can pick up again from there, that is if you don't mind.

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Wed Oct 25, 2006 10:39 am Post subject:

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Yes, you have a point there Ali. Perhaps, I thought I was pm'ing mate instead of posting. Hmmm...anyway I blew that. Or wait, yes, I was going to allow him to read my post, then delete it and he would delete his and then I could delete mine, rather than go back and edit out the dumb stuff. But before he could do that you have gone and posted.