TUTORIAL 1 (TASK 1)

Task 1 : In groups discuss, outline and explain :

Some of the different types of assessments that are carried out in the Malaysian ESL context
to assess students competencies in the different language skills.

LANGUAGE SKILLS ASSESSMENT
Assessment is generally defined as the collection and interpretation of information
through a process of synthesising, evaluating and passing judgement in decision
making (Airasian, 2005).
Smith (2001) stated that assessment is the set of processes through which
inferences are made about learners learning process, skills, knowledge and
achievements.
Studies related to language testing and assessment in Malaysian settings often
focused on the strategies used by the ESL teachers in assessing specific language
skills particularly writing and speaking (Vengadasamy, 2002).
Moreover, there is also a strong emphasis on the validity and reliability issues of test
constructs and assessment criteria and its resulting guidelines in constructing test
papers and marking scheme.
ASSESSMENT IN ESL MALAYSIA CONTEXT
Assessment includes testing but definitely not only testing. Assessment is often divided into
summative assessment and formative assessment.
1. Summative assessment:
Summative assessment is mainly based on testing. It is done mostly at the end of a
learning period or the end of a school year.
2. Formative assessment:
Formative assessment is based on information collected in the classroom during the
teaching processes for the purposes of improving teaching and learning, therefore, it
is sometimes termed as classroom assessment as well.
3. The ways to gather students learning information.
a.) Teachers observations
Teachers observations of the learners overall performance or achievement can be
quite accurate and fair.
b.) Continuous assessment
c.) Self-assessment and peer assessment
d.) Project work
Project work requires students to complete a set of tasks designed to explore a
certain idea or concept.
e) Portfolios: