Page 180 - Teaching English at Primary Level: From Theory into the Classroom

Basic Principles of Assessment

Evaluation
Figure 12.1
Assessment
The Inter-Related
Constructs of Evaluation,
Testing Measurement, and Testing
(Lynch, 2001)

is characterised by more attention to oral skills (listening and speaking) at the
beginning, with reading and writing being incorporated slowly and gradu-
ally. An important consideration refers to the types of activities used (such
as games, rhymes, songs, and stories), which are especially appropriate for
YLLs.

Language Evaluation, Assessment, and Testing
The terms evaluation, assessment and testing are frequently used incon-
sistently and interchangeably, which may lead to confusion (Lynch, 2001;
Ioannou-Georgiou & Pavlou, 2003). Evaluation commonly refers to the gath-
ering of information to determine the extent to which a language pro-
gramme meets its set goals, allowing us to make judgements about the
value of an (educational) program. For example, the Ministry of Education
may decide to evaluate the early English language teaching programme
in Slovenian primary schools. Such an evaluation study would not just test
the student’s language proficiency, but would also collect data on teaching
approaches, curriculum objectives, materials, and students,’ teachers,’ and
parents’ attitudes to teaching and learning English. Some evidence may also
be obtained by classroom observations directly.
While evaluation refers to a global process, assessment may be described
as a general term which covers a much broader range of activities aimed at
gathering information about learners’ knowledge, and skills, as well as their
attitudes towards and motivation for language learning. To assess language
learners, we may use a variety of methods and tools which may be formal
(such as traditional tests) or informal (such as teacher observation and dis-
cussions with students). Whether incidental or intended, a good teacher car-
ries out assessments all the time. In fact, whenever a student answers a ques-
tion or provides a comment, the teacher subconsciously makes a judgment
of their performance.
Tests are merely one of the instruments used in assessment. During a lan-

180