From this unit I learned that assessment is an important part in
teaching language. Teachers utilize
different methods to assess
learners. Assessment tasks are the tasks educators use for
assessing learners. Informal assessment
involves observing the learners on something that they are doing and giving
them comments on their performance. Formal assessment uses tests or exams to
assess learners and give their work a mark. Diagnostic test is taken at the beginning of a course to find out
what students know and do not know. Placement test, the information obtained in
this test will be used to place students in the correct level. Progress test is taken when has
finished the first part of a course and it measures what learners have learned.
There are also other ways to assess learners like portfolios, students collect their works done during the course and
then is presented to the teacher. I also learned that assessment tasks are
often named as objective, there is
only one answer, and subjective, the
marker has to decide if an answer is right or how right it is. I would apply
the knowledge acquired in this unit by taking students a diagnostic test which
is necessary to know learners’ weaknesses and strengths before starting a
course.
1. Griffith University (2012), Assessment matters,
retrieved from: http://app.griffith.edu.au/assessment-matters/docs/assessment-methods/tasks
2. Colorincolorado webcast (2014), Assessment of
English Language Learners, retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysDDfG-enCc