Testing Oral Language Skills via the Computer - Software @ SFU ...

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Testing Oral Language Skills via the Computer Question # Points Possible Tell a little about yourself. (lowest difficulty level) Fluency Pronunciation Grammar Quality 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 Total: Relate several things you did this morning from the time you woke up until now. (medium difficulty level) Fluency Pronunciation Grammar Quality 3 2 5 4 2 1 4 3 1 0 3 2 0 2 1 1 0 0 Total: Explain how to ride a bicycle. (high difficulty level) Fluency Pronunciation Grammar Quality 5 3 7 8 4 2 6 7 3 1 5 6 2 0 4 5 1 3 4 0 2 3 1 2 0 1 0 GRAND TOTAL: Total: 64 CALICO Journal
CONCLUSION Jerry W. Larson The general consensus in foreign- and second-language education is that oral skill development is a high priority, indeed in many cases, the top priority. If, in fact, speaking is emphasized, it should also be tested periodically. However, assessing oral skills requires a significant commitment of time and energy on the part of language teachers. In an effort to mitigate this testing burden, testing software has been developed that allows teachers to construct computerized oral tests, to administer them, and to assess students’ responses with relative ease. Using this kind of software in conjunction with an appropriate scoring technique, teachers can assess their students’ oral performance on a relatively frequent basis with a minimal loss of classroom time. REFERENCES Brown, J. W. (1985). RSVP: Classroom oral interview procedure. Foreign Language Annals, 18 (6), 481-486. Frink, H. (1982). Oral testing for first-year language classes. Foreign Language Annals, 14 (4), 281-287. Gonzalez Pino, B. (1989). Prochievement testing of speaking. Foreign Language Annals, 22 (5), 487-496. Gutiérrez, J. (1987). Oral testing in the high school classroom: Some suggestions. Hispania, 70, 915-918. Harlow, L. L., & Caminero, R. (1990). Oral testing of beginning language students at large universities: Is it worth the trouble? Foreign Language Annals, 23 (6), 489-501. Hendrickson, J. M. (1992). Creating listening and speaking prochievement tests. Hispania, 75 (5), 1326-1331. Higgs, T. V., & Clifford, R. (1982). The push toward communication. In T. V. Higgs (Ed.), Curriculum, competence, and the foreign language teacher (pp. 57-79). Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company. Larson, J. W. (1984). Testing speaking ability in the classroom: The semi-direct alternative. Foreign Language Annals, 17 (5), 499-507. Manley, J.(1995). Assessing students’ oral language: One school district’s response. Foreign Language Annals, 28 (1), 93-102. Meredith, R. A. (1990). The oral proficiency interview in real life: Sharpening the scale. Modern Language Journal, 74 (3), 288-296. Omaggio, A. C. (1986). Teaching language in context. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle. Paulus, L. (1998). Watch them SOAR: Students oral assessment redefined. Hispania, 81, 146-152. Volume 18 Number 1 65
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