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Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

On Saturday I teach a class of illegal immigrants from mostly South America. They work as bus boys, cooks and delivery people. They are required to take an exam before we change text books.

I just finished grading them, and many failed miserably. I don't really care because this is not an academic class. This is a survival English class. "Do you have a car? No, I don't have a car" is quite a challenge. Many students can't even write Spanish very well and/or have a 5th grade education. So, the low scores is not an issue for me or my bosses.

The things is, I have to hand these back tomorrow. These students are very hard working, and this is their first exam in 4 months. How can I break it to them easily? I don't want to say,"well the test is stupid, so don't worry." I wish I could say, "well, it's good practice for the future" But it's not.

I'll probably just say, "Good job everyone! This was your first exam and I think many of you just got nervous. I know your level of English and that is most important."

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Congratulations on finishing your first test in English. Many of you did not do well on the test, but don't worry because this is only one test. I am very proud of the work that you do in my class and am sure that you all will improve your English. I really like teaching this class, so let's keep trying.

That's probably a little difficult, but you get the idea.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You may also want to add a statement saying what you may have to cover again, or cover differently. Ask them what they thought was the hardest parts of the previous lessons. Make it a general discussion class, not one where you point out their mistakes. They already know that.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Focus on what they did right and spend a while going over that pulling out individual's examples of good answers. Then cover some of the bad stuff and finally tell them the score.

This is why pre-testing is so vitally important if there is to be a final assessment test - especially if the risk is that they will fail the final test miserably.

If you had done a pre-test, you would now have something to compare it with. While they have failed the test you have just done, they would have compared very well to a pre-test and then would have been encouraged by progress believing they can make the final test in time.

FGT · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Posts: 762 Location: Turkey

You teach illegal immigrants. Is the course in any way connected to their legal right to stay? Asking an illegal immigrant about his/her car is a pretty stupid question. What is the point of the course? Is it to enable them to be there undetected for longer or is it so they can legitimise themselves? You've either got serious questions to ask the government/official body or your boss because the questions/testing procedure doesn't seem to match your perception of them as students. Why didn't they have a "practice" test before the 4 month one? You shouldn't have to be in this situation now. They should have been given an inkling (and maybe an opportunity to repeat/go more slowly/have extra lessons if they were weak) before the important test.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Capergirl · Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 8:01 pm Post subject:

If most of my students failed a test, I would want to know why. I imagine it would likely be one of three reasons:
1. They didn't study.
2. They were not adequately prepared for the test.
3. The test was too hard for them.

I'm not sure I would even give back a test that had such disastrous results, to be honest. What I would probably do is give them a re-test after a brief review of topics covered (emphasis on what they need to know for the test). I would also make the second test a bit less complicated and review the instructions thoroughly before they take it. {I know that when I took tests in French, there were times that I misunderstood the instructions and ended up getting a lot of X's as a result.}

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Excellent question, advice, and Lynn, a good reply to FGT. Is this the same Lynn with a different avatar. I guess not. Confusing.

Did you get to design the test? It seems to me the test is the problem, not the students. It seems the test (and maybe material) was just to hard for them. I guess capergirl covered that. welcome back Ms Capergirl.

If I had to hand in the test results to the administration, I would just grade it on a curve. If that meant giving everyone an extra 20 points, that is fine with me.

Who chooses the quiz? It sounds like you can design your own quiz, that the owner doesn't care? Purpose of a quiz should be to guide students, reinforce what they know, and show them where they are weak.

Personally, I think I would cease worrying about what will happen in their next class. Focus on making your class suitable to their level. Then you will be doing right by them. Let the chips fall where they may...you teach to your class, not an artifical curriculum. Your students will know that you care for THEM. Or would this cost you a job?

Sounds like the problem of learning Japanese in China. Second year English major students are supposed to study a third language, usually Japanese. The expectaion for what they should no in Japanese is totally, totaly unralistic. Everyone knows this. So for the final test the teacher allows everyone to cheat.

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

"I lost all your test papers. I mean I used them as firewood, then my dog ate the ashes, then I lost my dog. It's a shame because you all passed - well done! Now, just to make sure, we are going to review everything we studied and then do the test again. Great job on the test by the way."

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Dr. J shows us why he bears the title of Dr.

best advice so far

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

By the way, thanks for the replies everyone.

It wasn't so bad. The students understood the situation. They took it very well. They are looking forward to the next class party.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

Lynn,

Who funds the students? I assumed that there might be government money in there and the bureaucracy and testing that goes with it. That would certainly be the case this side of the pond.

If the students are funding themselves then they are the ultimate arbiters, and the test is what you and they make of it.