I had mixed feelings while taking the interactive inventory. I couldn’t decide at first if to choose the answers based on my teaching practices or on my philosophical teaching beliefs. I opted for the latter, and all the answers I chose were learner-centered. But, I must confess that when it comes to assessment, I’m mostly a traditional instructor with emphasis on the right answers.
Could it be because it’s a language course (I teach Spanish), and the answers in grammar are either right or wrong? This is also true in the reading, listening and vocabulary comprehension sections of the tests. The only part that promotes and diagnoses the student’s learning is the essay portion of the test. The points received are based on the content and not on grammar perfection. Somehow I feel that this is the proper way of assessing a beginners Spanish course, to make sure the student has mastered the vocabulary and grammar covered in order to continue and succeed in the next level.
On the other hand, I can see more flexibility in assessment in intermediate and definitely in the advanced levels of Spanish courses. I can see a combination of right answers for grammar tests and having projects, papers and portfolios to assess the student’s learning. At these levels, most of the students who enroll are truly interested learners of Spanish; many of them are professional adults who are taking these courses to improve their Spanish and not for the grade or to transfer the units. I believe this type of students is the ideal one for a student-centered course: motivated, mature, asks questions, and is comfortable at reflecting, self-directing, managing, and evaluating his/her own learning.
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Beatrice,
I can see many collaborative and authentic language lessons for even beginning language groups.
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