LPAT Briefing Session (English Language)

1. LPAT Briefing Session (English Language) Date: 10 November 2012 (Saturday)    Time: 1:00pm - 3:30pm   Venue: Hotung Secondary School Speakers: Dr Neil DRAVE 1:00pm – 2:20pm Manager - Assessment Development (LPAT English Language), HKEAA Evian TONG 2:45pm – 3:15pm Language Proficiency Assessment Section, EDB

2. Introduction to the LPATE Dr. Neil DRAVE Manager of Assessment Development, HKEAA

3. Rundown • Aims of the Session • How the LPATE is assessed • Outline of the Papers • Paper 1 (Reading) • Paper 2 (Writing) • Paper 3 (Listening) • Paper 4 (Speaking) • Break (& Question submission time) • Questions (Paper 1 – 4) • Paper 5: Classroom Language Assessment (CLA) • Questions (Paper 5)

4. Aims • Introduce the assessment approach • Introduce each LPATE paper, with examples from recent assessments • Give you some hints about how to do well • Answer questions • More information in the Handbook for Candidates

5. Assessment TypesNorm-referenced vs. Standards-referenced

6. Structure of the LPATE

7. Paper 1 Reading • Duration: one hour 30 minutes • 3 Reading Comprehension passages • Passages are about 1 page of A4 each • One longer, two shorter (may change from year to year) • Most require phrases or sentences as answers • Topics and genres will be of different kinds • Some MC questions (4 options) – blacken the circle

8. Passage A Please answer the following questions. You may use words from thepassage or your own words except where explicitly stated. You do not have to answer each question in complete sentences but make sure that your answers are full enough and coherent enough for the assessor to understand. Rubric

9. Sample Passages (2010) Passage B With all its book lovers and gadget and technology buffs, Japan would seem to have the makings of a large market for electronic books. [continues] Passage C The Dinosaur In my grandmother’s dining-room there was a glass-fronted cabinet and in the cabinet a piece of skin. It was a small piece only, but thick and leathery, with strands of coarse reddish hair. [continues]

10. Sample Questions (1) • Question 1 (Passage B) ‘What factors suggest that electronic books might become popular in Japan?’ • Answer Book lovers and gadget/technology buffs [information retrieval]

11. Sample Questions (2) • Question 2 ‘What does ‘This’ (line 10) refer to?’ • [reference - exact words or paraphrase] • Question 3 ‘What may be the reasons that electronic comic books are profitable in Japan?’ (2 marks) • [inference – 2 reasons]

12. Sample Questions (3) • Question 4 (Passage C) ‘What phrase suggests that what the workmen did was very challenging?’ • Passage (transporting a frozen dinosaur) ‘I pictured blood and ice, flesh and salt, gangs of workmen and lines of barrels along a shore - a work of giants and all to no purpose.’ • Answer a work of giants [be specific]

13. Paper 1Suggestions • Refer to the text for answers (don’t rely on personal knowledge or experience) • Copy, summarise or paraphrase information in the text • If copying, don’t copy too much: only your FIRST answer (or section) will be marked • Pay attention to the number of marks • 2 marks usually means more than one piece of information • 1 mark MAY mean one piece of information or may mean that it is two closely linked pieces e.g. Q = ‘Where did the writer find materials in English’ A = Record stores and second-hand book stores (1 mark) • Make sure answers are grammatical

14. Paper 2 Writing • Part 1: Task 1 Composition Writing • Part 2: • Task 2A Correcting errors in a student’s composition • Task 2B Explaining errors in a student’s composition

15. Part 1: Task 1 Composition • Different text types to write (expository, narrative, descriptive etc.) • Text input of about 200 words • Suggested length – 400 words • Scales and descriptors used to judge quality of writing

16. Sample Part 1 Prompt (2010) Read the following letter about an interesting form of exercise. Dear Editor As Chairman of the HK Love for Parkour Association, I am unhappy about the misconceptions of Parkour that I have seen in the media recently, and am writing to clarify what Parkour is really about. [continues 150 – 200 words total]

17. Sample Writing Part 1 Task (2010) Task Write a letter to the Editor, responding to the letter above. In your letter, give your opinion on whether Parkour should be promoted to help Hong Kong people become fitter. You should also give two other suggestions, with justifications, of suitable activities to improve the (physical) fitness of HK people. Write about 400 words.

18. Sample Writing Part 1 Task (2007) Task Your Principal has provided HK$2000 to run a campaign to promote healthy eating in your school. He is now asking for suggestions on how best to spend this money. Write to the Principaloutlining some of the problems with students’ eating habits and suggesting two ways of using the funds provided.  Write about 400 words.

19. Scales and Descriptors • Scale 1 Organisation and Coherence • Scale 2 Grammatical & Lexical Accuracy/Range • Scale 3 Task Completion

20. Scale 1: Organisation and coherence • Unity: each paragraph should deal with one topic only • Coherence: the overall flow/development should be clear • Cohesion: use cohesive devices such as conjunctions, referencing and repetition of key words and phrases wisely - make sure that connectives aren’t overused • Conciseness: do not write more than is necessary

21. Scale 2: Grammatical & lexical accuracy/range • Accuracy • Sentence structure • Agreement • Tense and aspect • Voice • Collocation • Variety (complexity, naturalness) • Vocabulary and phrasing • Fixed expressions vs. cliché

22. Scale 3: Task completion • Read the task instructions carefully • Identify the specific areas to be addressed • Plan how you will address each for a balanced piece of writing

23. Composition marking and grading • All scripts are double marked • Discrepancies are 3rd marked by CE or Assistant CE • Many scripts are check-marked • All scripts undergo a Fair Averaging process to cancel out any effects of marker leniency or harshness

24. Paper 2 Part 1 Suggestions • Read English texts e.g. opinion pieces in newspapers • Become familiar with the basic structure of different types of texts • Increase your vocabulary using a thesaurus & other tools • Don’t just copy ideas from the prompt – expand upon them

25. Paper 2 Part 2 • Task 2A – Detecting & Correcting Errors / Problems in a Student Composition • Task 2B – Explaining Errors / Problems • Questions are in the Question booklet, write answers in the Question Answer booklet

26. Sample Task 2A (2008)Correcting Errors Global warming: What can we do? I think this not good to our planet. (1) We had to work to stop damaging us planet. There is much things we may do (2) to less the pollution like not to smoke, not drive and not to waste electricity. [continues]

27. (1) We had to work to stop damaging us planet. (2) to less the pollution like not to smoke, not drive and not to waste electricity. (3) even so my 15-years old sister. (1) Sample only – answer will be given (2) to lessen the pollution, like not smoking (3) even my 15-year old sister. Task 2A Suggested Answers

28. Writing Task 2B Sample Questions (1) 2009 Item 17: we celebrated at a very (17) good restaurant he help prepare the food There are two errors in this sentence. The first relates to the need for a/an (a)_________________‘where’ to tell the reader the location of the father’s food preparation. The second error is one of agreement. The subject is ‘he’, which is (b)___________________________, and so the verb should be ‘helps’ not ‘help’.

29. Sample Answers (1) Item 17: we celebrated at a very (17) good restaurant he help prepare the food There are two errors in this sentence. The first relates to the need for a/an (a)relative pronoun‘where’ to tell the reader the location of the father’s food preparation. The second error is one of agreement. The subject is ‘he’, which is (b) third person singular, and so the verb should be ‘helps’ not ‘help’.

30. Sample Questions (2) 2008 Item 17: … polar bear is (17) too cuter than the panda There is one error. The writer has used a/an (a)______________ ‘too’; however, the (b)_____________ ‘cuter’ is sufficient.

31. Sample Answers (2) Item 17: … polar bear is (17) too cuter than the panda There is one error. The writer has used a/an (a) modifier [adverb/intensifier] ‘too’; however, the (b) comparative (adjective) ‘cuter’ is sufficient.

32. Paper 2 Task 2 Suggestions (1) • LPATE for teachers of English • Tasks 2A and 2B, though related, are two separate tasks • Task 2A • Correct only the underlined and numbered items • Do not make unnecessary changes e.g. ‘My mother also likes fastly cars…’ ‘My mother also likes fast cars…’  ‘My mother also likes to drive cars quickly…’ 

33. Paper 2 2A/2B Suggestions (2) • Task 2B • Refer back to student composition • Be specific e.g. the type of pronoun / conditional • Revise basic grammatical terminology (‘metalanguage’) • Various answers (‘systems’) are allowed • Grammar book • easy to use • from a reputable publisher • If in doubt, put more detail • Spelling is important but mistakes will be penalised only once

34. Paper 3 Listening • Duration: One hour • Pauses included throughout & 10 minutes at the end • 3 or 4 texts e.g. radio discussions, debates, monologues, podcasts/webcasts • Different topics (not necessarily education related) • Up to 4 speakers & host • Native speakers of English & non-native speakers • Male & Female • ‘Normal’ speed for the type of discourse • Complete answers as you listen

35. Question types (1) 1. Open-ended How does Carmen send a message to Jeff Orlando? She writes a message on the notepad and draws a line to his name [need BOTH parts] 2. Gap-filling in a connected paragraph Complete the summary below. Use NO MORE THAN ONE WORD for each answer. (8 marks) David believes that the reforms are moving in the right (i)direction but he is unsure as to whether the new system will really be a (ii)betteralternative.

36. Question Types (2) • Filling in blanks in a flowchart • Filling in or ticking cells in a table • Filling in gaps in a bulleted list • Multiple choice • Diagram labelling • Numbers and dates • Sentence completion using speaker’s exact words

37. Read upcoming questions carefully during pauses Use background knowledge (topics, context) Grammar ONLY important in ‘one word answer’ section Connie agrees David’s view  Connie supports David’s view  Spelling ONLY important for proper names & job titles, unless the meaning is changed Tourist Management  Tourism Management  Board based education  Broad based education  Paper 3 Suggestions

38. Part 1 (individual) Task 1A Reading aloud Task 1B Recount Part 2 Group Interaction Paper 4 Speaking

39. Task 1A Reading Aloud (prose) Task 1B Telling/Recounting/ Presenting (monologue) 10 minutes to prepare for both parts 5 minutes for the test (both parts) Assessment FormatPart 1

40. Part 2 Group Interaction Assessment Format • 5 minutes to prepare in the classroom • 3 or 4 candidates in a group (random assignment) • Time limit • 10 Minutes (3 candidates) • 13 minutes (4 candidates) • Discuss an education-related topic / situation E.g. planning something, deciding what to do about something, reflecting on the past, coming up with a policy…

41. Scales and Descriptors Task 1A Reading aloud Scale 1. Pronunciation, stress and intonation Scale 2. Reading aloud with meaning Task 1B Recounting / Presenting Scale 3. Grammatical & lexical accuracy / range Scale 4. Organisation & cohesion Task 2 Group interaction Scale 5. Interacting with peers Scale 6. Discussing educational matters with peers

42. Reliability • All oral examiners are from HK tertiary institutions • Two examiners per assessment • Pre-assessment training & standardisation • During assessment - monitoring by Chief Examiner

43. Recording • Your performance will be recorded • If you agree to sit for the assessment, you agree to the recording • Reasons • Appeals & complaints • Examiner training • Research

44. Recording Set-up

45. Reading aloud Read phrase by phrase, not word by word Don’t try to be too dramatic Don’t be too slow – 2.5 to 3 minutes is about right Recounting How much can you do in 1 – 2 minutes? Two or three main points Clear structure Can be in a conversational or an ‘oral presentation’ style Group discussion Conversational style Don’t try to dominate Don’t just ask questions Build upon what others have said Refer to your actual (learning/teaching) experience if possible Suggestions

46. Handbook for Candidates (+CD, DVD) – New version 2010

47. Concluding Remarks • LPATE is a test for teachers, not a general English test • It is possible to practice for it (see past papers) • Treat it like a driving test, with certain skills to be demonstrated under controlled conditions • Markers and Oral Examiners are well-trained experts who want a fair assessment

48. GoodLuck!