Tutorial 1. Is/are there any difference(s) between structuralist and communicative influence in language assessment?

Which has higher impact ?

Structuralist Approach

Communicative Approach

views that language learning is chiefly concerned primarily with how language is concerned with systematic acquisition of a used in communication. set of habits

stresses the importance of constructive attempt to measure different language skills analysis and the need to identify and in communicative tests is based on a view measure the learners mastery of the of language referred to as divisibility separate elements of the target language hypothesis such as phonology, vocabulary and grammar.
testing the skills of listening, speaking, test content should totally be relevant for a reading and writing is separate from particular group of examinees and the tasks another as much as possible. set should relate to real-life situation

emphasis on reliability and objectivity

communicative testing introduces the concept of qualitative modes of assessment in preference to quantitative modes of assessment

Strengths Structuralist Approach Many forms of tests can be covered in the test in a short time. help students find their strengths and weaknesses in every skill they study. In testing students capability, this approach may objectively and surely be used by testers.

Communicative Approach

able to measure all integrated skills of pupils. very useful for pupils as the test content relates to real life. can help pupils in getting the score. Consider students who have a poor ability in using spoken language but may score quite highly on tests of reading. Detailed statements of each performance level serve to increase the reliability of the scoring by enabling the examiner to make decisions according to carefully drawn-up and wellestablished criteria.

Weaknesses Structuralist Approach tends to be a complicated job for teachers to prepare questionnaires using this approach. considers measuring non-integrated skills more than integrated skills.

Communicative Approach

Unlike the structuralist approach, this approach does not emphasize learning structural grammar, yet it may be difficult to achieve communicative competence without a considerable mastery of the grammar of a language. It is possible for cultural bias to affect the reliability of the tests being administered.

Which has higher impact?

Communicative approach has more impact compared to structuralist approach as it relates to pupils real life. Communicative approach helps to know whether pupils can use productively what they have learned perceptively through their ability in communication. However, structuralist is also important to check if pupils master the element of language before they can use the language fluently.

2. Write a reflection on the assessment (language or otherwise) you went through in school. How were you assessed? What did you like/dislike about it? Was it fair? Why? Any particular incidents? What were the strengths and weaknesses? Was it too much?

- spelling, oral test (mostly is reading rather than speaking), dictation - somehow it helps in listening skill indirectly although it is dry and less likely to be related with personal experience - therefore, it inclines toward teacher-centered kind of learning which might be not so meaningful to learners