Listening/Speaking Assessment Tasks by Cloudia Ho Outline of the Assessment Test type Classroom-based Test Function Diagnosis Test This is a diagnostic test to evaluate students’ comprehension of the course content. The course is a semester-long EFL class which runs three hours per week. It consists of 20~25 university students from common culture background. An experienced EFL teacher is in charge of guiding students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing with an Only English Language Policy in class. Most of the students are spontaneous and responsible for their learning. Objectives ‧ To diagnose the test-takers’ English abilities of listening comprehension and speaking skills. ‧ To examine the test-takers’ comprehension of the authentic topic-based course content. ‧ To promote a better future successful performance both in academic and social-context English spoken environments. Target Test-takers 18~22 years old University and University of Technology students in Taiwan. Students are preparing for international student exchanges or planning to study abroad after graduation. Overall, the test-takers’ English proficiency are in the intermediate level. Most of the test-takers are capable of reaching upper intermediate or above level of English reading and writing but lower performance in oral contexts. However, heterogeneous English abilities among the students still can be observed at times. Paper format Listening section contains 5 tasks, Speaking section contains 5 tasks. Focus on “Accommodations” General English Proficiency level Intermediate References of Tasks & Rebics ‧ H. Douglas Brown (2004) Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education ‧ H. Douglas Brown (2001). Teaching by Principles: An interactive Approach to Language Pedagogy. Administration One administer (also the scorer) Listening Section: Test-takers listen to the tape recorders. Speaking Section: Test-taker vs. Administer 1 Tasks Listening Task Type Item Type Focus Task 1 Responsive Multiple choice Distinguish “How are you doing “with other greeting questions Task 2 Intensive True/False Distinguish do/don’tsound Task 3 Intensive Dialogue paraphrase: Multiple choice: Underrated the meaning of Individual lease, Roommate matching Task 4 Extensive Authentic questions on details: Multiple choice Comprehend the apartment setting: private bathroom Task 5 Extensive Authentic questions on details: Fill-in the Blanks Comprehend the apartment facilities Speaking Task Type Item Type Focus Task 6 Intensive Picture-cued elicitation of prepositions of space Describe apartment & use prepositions of space Task 7 Intensive Picture-cued elicitation of frequency adverbs & connectors Describe daily life routine & use frequency adverbs & connector Task 8 Responsive Eliciting of questions from the test-takers Function of inquiring Task 9 Responsive Questions eliciting open-ended responses Express personal ideas Task 10 Extensive Retelling the news Summarize & retell 2 Accommodation I. Listening Test-takers hear Becky is an exchange student at the University of Florida. She has just arrived few days ago. She is looking for an apartment in Gainesville, Florida. Listen to the dialogues carefully between the leasing office manager and Becky. Answer the following questions. [Task 1] Multiple Choice Test-takers read Direction: Listen to the Leasing Office Manager & choose the correct answer. Test-takers hear LOM: How are you doing? (*LOM: Leasing office manager) Becky:_________________ Test-takers read (a) I am watching the Simpson’s. (distractor: What are you doing?) (b) I am 21 years old (distrator: How old are you?) (c) I am good. Thanks. (d) I am a college student. (distrator: What do you do?) Answer Key: C [Task 2] True or False Test-takers read Direction: Listen to the dialogue & circle T(true)/F(false). Test-takers hear Becky: I’m looking for an apartment and just wondering whether there is any room available in your apartment complx. LOM: Sure. We do have some vacant at the moment. Test-takers read ----> The LOM means the apartment complx is full. ( T or F ) Answer Key: F 3 [Task 3] Multiple Choice Test-takers read Direction: Listen to the dialogue and choose the correct answer. Test-takers hear Becky: I’m here alone and I think one bedroom or an efficiency apartment would be fine. LOM: Sorry. We don’t have any one-bedroom apartments. You may want to lease a two-bedroom apartment and we’ll try to match you with roommates. Test-takers read (a) The GNV place provides individual leases and roommate matching service. (b) The GNV place has one bedroom apartments for lease. (c) The GNV place has no apartments available now. Answer Key: A [Task 4] Multiple Choice Test-taker read Direction: Listen to the dialogue & choose the correct answer. Test-takers hear Becky: How many bedrooms are there in an apartment? LOM: We have 2-bedroom and 4-bedroom apartments. Every room has a private bathroom and every tenant shares the kitchen & living room. Becky: How about the rental fee? LOM: The rent is 499 dollars per month plus first month 100 dollars deposit and 200 dollars redecoration fee. The rent includes electricity, water, internet, and cable. Test-takers read How many bathrooms are there in a 4-bedroom apartment? (a) 1 bathroom (b) 2 bathrooms (c) 3 bathrooms (d) 4 bathrooms Answer Key: D (Every room has a private bathroom, which means 4-bedroom apartment has 4 bathrooms) {Continue to Task 5} 4 [Task 5] Fill in the Blanks Test-takers read Direction: According to the dialogue, write down the correct answers. The rent of 499 dollars per month includes water, internet and what other service? _____________, _____________ Answer Key: electricity, cable (It includes electricity, water, internet, and cable.) II. Speaking Test-takers hear Becky moves into the GNV place and enjoys her life very much. [Task 6] Picture-cued elicitation of prepositions of space Test-takers see Test-takers Read 1. Generally describe the arrangement and setting in Becky’s apartment. (number of rooms, type of furniture & equipment etc.) 2. Use “prepositions of place” to describe the position of each room, the furniture and equipment. Becky 5 Task6 Scoring Scale for Intensive Speaking Test Vocabulary Focus Types of furniture & equipment, preposition of place Score Point 3 •Grammar: describe the pictures accurately & clearly •Vocabulary: precise vocabulary. •Pronunciation: clear & correct •Discourse Management: advanced structure Score Point 2 •Grammar: describe the pictures with few errors. •Vocabulary: sufficient vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are rare •Discourse Management: advanced structure with slight disorder Score Point 1 •Grammar: describe the pictures partly clearly but with noticeable errors. •Vocabulary: some or few vocabulary items •Pronunciation: accent is intelligible though often quite faulty •Discourse Management: basic structure Score Point 0 •Grammar: fail to describe the pictures •Vocabulary: few or no vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are frequent & interfere with understanding •Discourse Management: no structure [Task 7] Picture-cued elicitation of frequency adverbs & connectors Test-takers Read Use the frequency adverbs to describe what Becky does regarding Monday to Friday. Ex: Becky always goes to the library in the afternoon. Becky’s Schedule Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri Morning Afternoon Evening Task7 Scoring Scale for Intensive Speaking Test Vocabulary Focus frequency adverbs Score Point 3 •Grammar: describe the pictures accurately & clearly 6 •Vocabulary: precise vocabulary. •Pronunciation: clear & correct •Discourse Management: advanced structure Score Point 2 •Grammar: describe the pictures with few errors. •Vocabulary: sufficient vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are rare •Discourse Management: advanced structure with slight disorder Score Point 1 •Grammar: describe the pictures partly clearly but with noticeable errors. •Vocabulary: some or few vocabulary items •Pronunciation: accent is intelligible though often quite faulty •Discourse Management: basic structure Score Point 0 •Grammar: fail to describe the pictures •Vocabulary: few or no vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are frequent & interfere with understanding •Discourse Management: no structure [Task 8] Eliciting of questions from the test-takers Test-takers read Becky visits her friend in the neighborhood Campus Club, and she is curious about the accommodations. She wants to compare Campus Club with the community where she is staying right now. If you were Becky, how would you ask your friend & find out the rental information? Q1: Ask about the monthly rental fee Q2: Ask about the ways of rent payment Q2: Ask about the facilities/amenities in the community Task8 Scoring Scale for Responsive Speaking Test Score Point 3 •Grammar: ask questions accurately & clearly •Vocabulary: precise vocabulary. •Pronunciation: clear & correct Score Point 2 •Grammar: ask questions with few errors. •Vocabulary: sufficient vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are rare Score Point 1 •Grammar: ask questions partly clearly but with noticeable errors. •Vocabulary: some or few vocabulary items •Pronunciation: accent is intelligible though often quite faulty Score Point 0 •Grammar: fail to ask questions •Vocabulary: few or no vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are frequent & interfere with understanding 7 [Task 9] Questions eliciting open-ended responses Test-takers Read If you were Becky, would you choose to stay in the GNV place? Why would you take it or wouldn’t? Give reasons to support your decision. Task9 Scoring Scale for Responsive Speaking Test Score Point 3 •Grammar: express opinions accurately & clearly •Vocabulary: breadth of vocabulary & idioms. •Pronunciation: clear & correct •Discourse Management: advanced structure Score Point 2 •Grammar: express opinions with few errors. •Vocabulary: sufficient vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are rare •Discourse Management: advanced structure with slight disorder Score Point 1 •Grammar: express opinions with noticeable errors. •Vocabulary: few vocabulary items •Pronunciation: accent is intelligible though often quite faulty •Discourse Management: basic structure Score Point 0 •Grammar: fail to express opinions •Vocabulary: few or no vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are frequent & interfere with understanding •Discourse Management: no structure [Task 10] Retelling the news Test-takers hear All residents who wish to park a motor vehicle in the GNV place during restricted hours must display a valid parking decal or permit. Restricted hours are 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, unless otherwise indicated. Parking decals can be purchased at the Leasing Office. Office hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday through Friday. You must present your room key and ID when you purchase your decal. Retell the news, explain the parking rules and ways to get parking permit in the GNV place. Task10 Scoring Scale for Extensive Speaking Test Score Point 3 •Grammar: retell main ideas accurately & clearly •Vocabulary: precise vocabulary •Pronunciation: clear & correct •Discourse Management: advanced structure Score Point 2 •Grammar: retell main ideas with few errors. •Vocabulary: sufficient vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are rare •Discourse Management: advanced structure with slight disorder Score Point 1 •Grammar: retell main ideas with noticeable errors. •Vocabulary: few vocabulary items •Pronunciation: accent is intelligible though often quite faulty •Discourse Management: basic structure Score Point 0 •Grammar: fail to retell main ideas •Vocabulary: few or no vocabulary items •Pronunciation: errors in pronunciation are frequent & interfere with understanding •Discourse Management: no structure . Listening/ Speaking Assessment Tasks by Cloudia Ho Outline of the Assessment Test type Classroom-based Test Function. guiding students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing with an Only English Language Policy in class. Most of the students are spontaneous and responsible