Branford, Florida TESOL Online & Teaching English Jobs

This unit looks at different ways of evaluating students’ levels and progress, as well as some common external exams. If students are given open feedback as to their own progress, this will help them in self-evaluation. There are a number of ways to assess a student’s language level. One of these ways is by giving tutorials. This can take place with the whole group or with individual students. Teachers can review work done, aims of the lesson or how well students performed the tasks and whether they have any problems Furthermore, teachers can ask students to evaluate their course by means of questionnaires or guided discussions. If students’ level of communication and understanding is too low for this, then their mother tongue can be used if possible. Lastly, the use of tests is another way to assess a student’s language level, progress and point of difficulties using the English language. various tests can therefore be used, such as the placement tests, progress tests, diagnostic tests, progress tests. Tests can be given every week, month, term, or after a certain amount of the course book has been covered. Tests can either be made formal (written tests) or informal by using games. Another test that students may take is the achievement test (internal test) which is usually taken at the end of the school year also external examinations offered by organizations’ such as Cambridge Assessment, and proficiency tests which are not related to the school’s curriculum. Placement tests are made to enable teachers to place new students in the right class according to their language ability. This test is mostly conducted by multiple choice questions and spoken interview to make sure they are able to communicate and participate in the required level. Progress tests should be used periodically to see what language has been remembered or acquired and what has been forgotten. These tests help teachers and students to know where they are lacking in language. this helps to encourage students to review and revise. Reading, writing, speaking and listening should all be tested as well as language items covered within the prescribed period. Teachers favor informal testing as it is based on knowledge rather then memory which is characteristic of formal testing. In informal testing teachers are able to see the students on a regular basis and as a result are able to measure their progress through ongoing observation. Diagnostic tests are similar to placement tests. They are given at the start of the course to see what a student already knows and to help the teacher to prepare lessons and materials that will fit the needs of the students. Practice tests should follow the format and structure of the external examination. Example: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) which is an American based test used by American universities as a requirement for non-native English speakers to gain admission, IELTS (International English Language Testing System) meant for people who want to work or study where English is the primary mode of communication. The Cambridge assessment organizes a number of Cambridge exams for general English (Key, Preliminary English test and first certificate in English, etc.), Business English (Business English Certificate, Business English Testing Service). There is also Trinity College London which offers Trinity’s ESOL skills for life qualification which is United Kingdom based and designed for those over the age of 16 years and who have decided to make a life in the UK, with English as their second language.