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jbpatlanta
Joined: 02 Jun 2007 Location: Daejeon
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 1:30 am Post subject: Level Testing Adults |
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I need some examples of level tests for adult students. I have about 20 students that I need to divide into three classes. I cannot give them a "test" no writing. I has to be an interview.
If anyone has done this before what kinds of questions did you ask them. I am trying to think up different questions that will require them to answer me in different ways. I thought about asking about their families, hobbies, past weekend activities, favorites, etc.
Does this sound like a good idea?
I usually don't have a level test I use. I usually just start going and adjust how I teach. But my company wants an assessment done and then three new classes created so that each class can use a different textbook.
Any other ideas? |
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ddeubel

Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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Basically, you are on the right track. I'd just add that you need a picture in order to prompt students and get them responding in some focused fashion.
This is what I've done in the past.
Test students in pairs, unless the class/program is uber competitive. Ask basic questions or review as noted.
Then show the picture. Ask the questions and instruct the students to respond in full sentences. When they can't answer a question or make a gross error in communication. That's their level 1- 10. ( a kind of bell curve).
Further, use the vocab question to double check. Generally, vocab is a great way to quickly level. If they know bike but not kite - that means they probably aren't high level....the quicker and more recall of low frequency vocab is a denoter of higher level fluency...
We have lots of placement tests on our community, just have to do a search (it works!)
Cheers,
DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com[/url] |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:00 am Post subject: ,m |
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jbpatlanta
Forum: Job-related Discussion Forum Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:17 pm Subject: .
http://www.vocabulary.co.il/
thanks |
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Hanson

Joined: 20 Oct 2004
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:25 am Post subject: |
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I usually check for verb tenses and fluency/accuracy.
For verb tenses, simply ask questions that would require them to use various forms:
- Tell me about your last vacation (simple past)
- What are your plans after this interview? (future)
- Tell me about your life since high school (simple past and present perfect)
- etc... for more difficult verb formations if you have to make several classes of higher levels - past perfect, conditionals, modals
* notice I don't use the verb tense I'm looking for in the question/request...
For fluency/accuracy, I look at time taken to respond/interact, flow, as well as the correctness of what they're saying.
I actually think vocabulary is a very bad way of level-testing someone's English. Knowledge, or lack thereof, of a list of words a speaker does not make. |
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Fat_Elvis

Joined: 17 Aug 2006 Location: In the ghetto
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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Hanson wrote: |
I actually think vocabulary is a very bad way of level-testing someone's English. Knowledge, or lack thereof, of a list of words a speaker does not make. |
I second you on that. I have lots of students who know all kinds of ridiculous words you'd never use in everyday life but have trouble stringing a sentence together. In contrast I has this Emirati student in my class a few months ago whose fluency and grammar were great but whose vocabulary was seriously limited, but that didn't stop him from participating in discussions.
I would use some combination of ddeubel's and Hanson's approaches. Start off with some simple questions to check for tenses etc. A picture is a good approach to check for present continuous and use of there is/are. Set more and more difficult questions the longer you go so the students work their way up. You could set some one or two minute speaking task on an everyday topic to check for fluency later in the test or put them in groups and set them a task to check if they can interact in English.
You could mark them using some sort of grid. Say, out of 25 marks, give 10 for fluency, 10 for accuracy and a few each for vocab and pronunciation. |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject: m |
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jbpatlanta
a suggestion
the old ESL Oral Assessment (ESLOA) originally published by Literacy Volunteers of America Amazon.com |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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ddeubel

Joined: 20 Jul 2005
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:46 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
I actually think vocabulary is a very bad way of level-testing someone's English. Knowledge, or lack thereof, of a list of words a speaker does not make. |
I agree as a general rule but I do still think it is a reliable "quick" way, and as a "check" as I mentioned. No matter how many words a person has memorized, that memorization will still remain only recallable through a specified framework. It won't be recalled as well in a completely different context.
Still, of course the teacher should use common sense - if student A knows the that something is a dandelion but still can't tell you what time it is...warning lights should go off.
I have forever wanted someone to test my own theory that fluency level is complete related to memory, short term memory recall of language. I used to use this as a way to level students.
Give the students a paragraph to read. Very very simple, so simple that all the words are recognized (in the Dolch 220 site words). Give them only 30 seconds to read it. Then ask all students the same questions..... the ones who can recall the most information will be those with higher fluency. I kid you not. Just create a checklist for 10 questions. The number they answer is their level. Low fluency level students just can't recall any info. -- their brain won't retain it and their language is instantaneous (kinda like "ramion" - cheap food) and reactive.
Interesting thesis for anyone wanting to do some important work, me thinks. I know it works based on my experience but I'd love to see it validated experimentally.
DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com |
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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maingman
Joined: 26 Jan 2008 Location: left Korea
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