Thursday, November 25, 2010

Narrative

Learning objectives and contents to be assessed
The test is made to evaluate the development of the target language and it covers the 4 main skills which are:
·         Reading: Here the student must read and scan the text in order to complete a true or false exercise.
·         Writing: The learner has to use the previous reading and their comprehension to complete some subjective questions.
·         Listening: In this part of the test, the learners are going to listen to a recorded conversation from a cd of a text book, and they will answer some questions about it.
·         Speaking: Students have to discuss about a topic that they will choose.
The first draft was simply the 4 skills, from there I just made them more specific, and then I developed exercises and activities where the students were able to show what they have learned through the course.
Once I decide which tasks would be included, I grade them in an equal way, so each skill was as important as any other. The activities were easy to make, they are simple and effective.
The test is mostly indirect because most of the items measure applied skills that the students have learned before.
The system evaluation for this test is very easy and simple to use.
The test is economical and easy to use for both, teacher and student. And since it evaluates true knowledge learned in the classroom it is reliable.



Test specifications:
·         Reading:
Objective: Look for specific information and to comprehend the reading.
Format: Narrative
Task: Answer a true/false exercise
Time: 10 min
1 Exercise
Writing:
Objective: Create a different ending based on a text, not less than 30 words. Give an opinion about the reading.
Format: Narrative - Opinion
Task: Write a different ending – Write the moral of the original text
Time: 20min
2 Exercises
Listening:
Objective: Comprehend the audio in order to complete a task
Format: Conversation
Task: Answer a multiple choice activity
Time: 10
1 Exercise

Speaking
Objective: Discuss situation and share ideas
Format: Different real life situations
Task: Propose and discuss the best solution for the chosen situation
Time: 10
1 Exercise

Full checklist for moderators


Si
No
Is the English grammatically correct?
X

Is the English natural and acceptable?
X

Is the English in accordance with the specs?
X

Does the item test what it is supposed to test?
X

The correct response cannot be obtained without the appropriate grammar knowledge?
X

Is the item economical?
X

Multiple choice- is there only 1 correct answer?
X

Gap filling – are there just one or two correct responses?
Not
used
Multiple choice – are the distractors really going to distract?

X
Is the key complete and correct?
X

Are the instructions complete? Not too long?
X

Is there an example?
X




Test

Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Level 4
Name: _______________________Group:_____ Date:______ Grade:_______
A) Reading (20 points)
Instructions: Read the following story. Choose if the statements are true or not.
WHATEVER YOU NEED
 I was working as a consultant in a beer company, helping the president and senior vice-presidents formulate and implement their new strategic vision. It was an enormous challenge.
At the same time, my mother was in the final stages of cancer.
I worked during the day and drove 40 miles home to be with her every night. It was tiring and stressful, but it was what I wanted to do. My commitment was to continue to do excellent consulting during the day, even though my evenings were very hard. I didn’t want to bother the president with my situation, yet I felt someone at the company needed to know what was going on. So I told the vice-president of Human Resources, asking him not to share the information with anyone.
A few days later, the president called me into his office.
I figured he wanted to talk to me about one of the many issues we were working on. When I entered, he asked me to sit down. He faced me from across his large desk, looked me in the eye and said, I heard your mother is very ill.
I was totally caught by surprise and burst into tears. He just looked at me, let my crying subside, and then gently said a sentence I will never forget: Ask whatever you need.
That was it. His understanding and his willingness to both let me be in my pain and to offer me everything were qualities of compassion that I carry with me to this day.
1-  The man’s name is Karl                         T__/F__
2-  The man was ashamed of his mom       T__/F__
3-  He didn’t expect to be understood         T__/F__
4-  His life was easy and comfortable         T__/F__
5-  His mother has cancer                           T__/F__
B) Writing (20 points) – Vocabulary and Grammar
Instructions:
1-  Change the ending of the previous story by creating new situations. 30 words or more: (10 points)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2-  What is the moral of the story? (10 points)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
C)Listening (20 points)
Instructions:
1-  Listen to the conversation between Jenny and Elizabeth and circle the correct answer.
The main topic of the conversation is
a)  Pets
b)  Pollution
c)   Jobs
Jenny does not agree with Elizabeth because:
a)  Jenny’s religion
b)  Jenny’s experience
c)   Jenny saw a movie that change her perspective about the topic

At the end Elizabeth:
a)  Accepts that she is wrong
b)  Changes Jenny’s perspective
c)   Gets angry
They were talking in a
a)  Restaurant
b)  Park
c)   Train station

D)                 Speaking (20 points)
Instructions: Read the next situations and in pairs choose one. Discuss and try to give a solution to the chosen problem telling reasons why.
·       A student does not have time to do all his tasks, he works in the afternoon and studies in the morning. But he likes to go to dance every night. What he can do?
·       A neighbor’s house is on fire while he at work. There is a cat trapped in the house and if the cat is not saved soon he could die. What would you do?
·       Your best friend is stealing some jewelry from a jewelry store, nobody notice it but you. What would you do?
You can say: 3rd situation
I would call the police because I think that….



Answer Key
A)Reading (20pts)
True or false: Each correct response is equal to 4pts
1-  False
2-  False
3-  True
4-  False
5-  True

B) Writing (20pts)
Changing endings
From 0 to 3 mistakes 10 points
From 4 to 6 mistakes 8 points
From 7 to 9 mistakes 6 points
More than 9 mistakes 5 points
(The mistakes include grammar, spelling, and coherence)

Identifying the moral
From 0 to 2 mistakes 10 points
From 3 to 5 mistakes 8 points
From 6 to 8 mistakes 6 points
More than 8 mistakes 5 points
(The mistakes include grammar, spelling, and coherence)




C)Listening (20pts)
Conversation: Each correct response is equal to 5pts
1-   Pets
2-  Jenny’s experience
3-  Accepts that she is wrong
4-  Park

D)                Speaking (20pts)
Grammar:
·       Correct use of the syntax with few or no errors (5pts)
·       Most of the structures are correct with some errors (3-4pts)
·       Short sentences to express complete ideas and many errors (1-2pts)
·       Does not show knowledge or use syntax (0pts)
Vocabulary:
·       A good repertory of vocabulary (5pts)
·       Just vocabulary learned in class (3-4pts)
·       Few vocabulary when expressing ideas (1-2 pts)
·       Lack of vocabulary and use of the mother language to express ideas (0pts)
Pronunciation:
·       Correct pronunciation all the time when speaking (5pts)
·       Good pronunciation when asked to answer some questions (3-4pts)
·       Understandable pronunciation but not very good (1-3pts)
·       Incorrect pronunciation when speaking (0pts)
Fluency:
·       Talk a regular rhythm and a good pace (5pts)
·       Short pauses within the speech (3-4pts)
·       Not very coherent when speaking with many pauses (1-3pts)
·       Cannot be understood because the lack of coherence and fluency (0pts)
Table to measure or grade the speaking development according to the values mentioned before.
Example:

Students’ name: Rodriguez Pintle Eric
Group   751     Level  4
Grammar
5
Vocabulary
5
Pronunciation
5
Fluency
5
Total
20





Learning objectives and contents to be assessed
The test is made to evaluate the development of the target language and it covers the 4 main skills which are:
·       Reading: Here the student must read and scan the text in order to complete a true or false exercise.
·       Writing: The learner has to use the previous reading and their comprehension to complete some subjective questions.
·       Listening: In this part of the test, the learners are going to listen to a recorded conversation from a cd of a text book, and they will answer some questions about it.
·       Speaking: Students have to discuss about a topic that they will choose.
The first draft was simply the 4 skills, from there I just made them more specific, and then I developed exercises and activities where the students were able to show what they have learned through the course.
Once I decide which tasks would be included, I grade them in an equal way, so each skill was as important as any other. The activities were easy to make, they are simple and effective.
The test is mostly indirect because most of the items measure applied skills that the students have learned before.
The system evaluation for this test is very easy and simple to use.
The test is economical and easy to use for both, teacher and student. And since it evaluates true knowledge learned in the classroom it is reliable.
Test specifications:
·       Reading:
Objective: Look for specific information and to comprehend the reading.
Format: Narrative
Task: Answer a true/false exercise
Time: 10 min
1 Exercise
·       Writing:
Objective: Create a different ending based on a text, not less than 30 words. Give an opinion about the reading.
Format: Narrative - Opinion
Task: Write a different ending – Write the moral of the original text
Time: 20min
2 Exercises
·       Listening:
Objective: Comprehend the audio in order to complete a task
Format: Conversation
Task: Answer a multiple choice activity
Time: 10
1 Exercise
·       Speaking
Objective: Discuss situation and share ideas
Format: Different real life situations
Task: Propose and discuss the best solution for the chosen situation
Time: 10
1 Exercise

Full checklist for moderators


Si
No
Is the English grammatically correct?
X

Is the English natural and acceptable?
X

Is the English in accordance with the specs?
X

Does the item test what it is supposed to test?
X

The correct response cannot be obtained without the appropriate grammar knowledge?
X

Is the item economical?
X

Multiple choice- is there only 1 correct answer?
X

Gap filling – are there just one or two correct responses?
Not
used
Multiple choice – are the distractors really going to distract?

X
Is the key complete and correct?
X

Are the instructions complete? Not too long?
X

Is there an example?
X