Communicative Testing

1. Communicative Testing Katherine C. FitzSimons English Language Fellow Guayaquil, Ecuador 2008-2009 09 4664 358 celular ukraitie@yahoo.com

2. Communicative Testing:Common Questions from Teachers • If we focus more on speaking and listening, how can students do a written exam? • How can we test students´ speaking ability? • How can a test be communicative if it is an individual task? Let´s discover the answers!

3. Asking the Correct Questions • First, we must learn how to change the kind of questions we ask our students. • We must focus more on WHY and HOW questions which make students explain things and give their opinions. • Finally, we must believe that many possible answers are correct.

4. Open-ended v. Close-ended Questions • An OPEN question has more than one possible answer Ex: Why did you like the story? • A CLOSED question has only one correct answer Ex: What was the name of the man in the story? Which one is more communicative? Why?

5. Closed (BAD) Question: What was the name of the man in the story? Answer: David. Result: All students´ answers are the same. There is only one correct answer. Open (GOOD) Question: Why did you like the story? Answer: I liked the story because… Result: All students answers should be different. There are many correct answers. Let´s Compare

6. Let´s practice: Make this closed question into an open question 1. The vocabulary term "side effect" of a medication: a) refers to any action of a medication in the body other than the one the doctor wanted it to have. b) is the chain effect of a medication. c) additionally benefits the medication.

7. This is an OPEN question: 1. Briefly describe a time when you or someone you know experienced a “side effect” of a medication. This question is better than the original because each students´ answer will be different.

8. Let´s practice: Make this closed question into an open question 2. The singular simple past tense of the verb “to be” = “was” True or False?

9. This is an OPEN question: • Write a sentence using the singular simple past tense of “to be”. This question is better than the original because all students will create unique sentences, proving they understand the grammar rule.

10. Let´s practice: Make this closed question into an open question 3. Add correct punctuation to the end of these sentences or phrases: Congratulations __ I was born in 1980 __ What is your name __

11. This is an OPEN question: 3. Give an example of an exclamatory, declaratory and interrogatory sentence. This question is better than the original because it forces students to think of their own examples, or create language.

12. Open, Communicative Questions • These questions produce very different, original answers from each student and make it more difficult for students to copy each other. • The answers will let a teacher see if a student truly understands the topic and if he or she has learned something.

13. Let´s Make Test Questions! • Now we will practice making OPEN questions for an exam. • We will use the same text for all exam questions. • Our exam includes questions for: • Reading • Writing • Listening • Speaking

14. Reading Tests • Students can read the same text • Students can read different texts • Students can read something ¨real¨ (advertisement, newspaper, magazine, menu, map, bus schedule…) • Students can prepare their reading test at home

15. Open Questions for Reading • Read the text. • In groups, discuss what you want to ask students about the text. • Write ONE open, communicative exam question about the text for students to answer.

16. Sample Reading Question and Answer • How did you feel when you read the story? Why? • I felt sad because they lost their house. I was scared because fires are dangerous.

17. Writing Tests • Students can answer text-based questions • Students can answer free-response questions • Students can write a composition, letter, diary, story… • A writing test can be done at home

18. Open Questions for Writing • Read the same text again. • In groups, discuss what you want the students to write about. • Make ONE open, communicative test question for students to answer in writing.

19. Sample Writing Question and Answer • Write a short letter to one of the people in the story. • Dear Mr. Eastwood, I think you are a hero because you saved your family from the fire in your house. Sincerely, Katie

20. Listening Tests • Students can listen to a tape, CD, music, radio, Internet, or a movie • Students can listen to the voice of the teacher • Students can listen to each other

21. Open Questions for Listening • Read the text again. • In groups, decide how you want to present this text (for example, on a CD, teacher reads it, students read it to each other…) • Make ONE open, communicative test question for listening to this text

22. Sample Listening Question and Answer • Listen to your partner read the story aloud. Write 3 things you remember from listening to the story. • 1. Two families had fires in their houses. 2. There were two children, a boy and a girl. 3. Mr. Eastwood is a taxi driver.

23. Speaking Tests • Students can speak to the teacher • Students can speak to each other • Students can record their voices

24. Open Questions for Speaking • Read the text once more. • In groups, discuss how the students will speak (to the teacher, with each other, record their voices…) • Make ONE open, communicative test question for students to answer orally.

25. Sample Speaking Question and Answer • Please tell the class 1 important thing we can do to prevent a fire in our homes. • To prevent a fire, we can always remember to turn off the gas when we finish cooking.

26. Final Comments • Communicative exams feature OPEN, not closed questions. • Open questions usually ask WHY or HOW and require original, unique answers from students. • Open answers are more difficult to copy, but they are also more difficult to correct!

27. THANK YOU!!! Katherine C. FitzSimons English Language Fellow Fundación Ecuador-Aprendamos ukraitie@yahoo.com 09 4664358 celular