LESSON 2:

LANGUAGE ASSESSMENT
STRATEGIES
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, students are expected to:

• differentiate between various methods of assessment

and its sustainability to different learning objectives;
and
• formulate a language assessment scheme based on
various learning objectives.
Introduction:
"Most schools and most of our learning stops at
knowing and we need to move that and broaden it
to the doing and the reflecting", says Bob Lenz. He
is a co-founder and the chief executive officer of
Envisions Schools, a university that uses portfolio
defense as its means of assessment.
What is the Purpose of Language
Assessment
1. Achievement Assessment: is the completion of
specific objectives set out by a course. It refers to
work completed in lessons. It measures the extent
to which the pupil has met the learning goals in a
given time-frame such as a lesson, series of
lessons, or an entire course.
2. Proficiency Assessment: is the
assessment of a pupils' ability -
what they know and what they can do
in the real world. It measures a learner's
proficiency in a context outside the
classroom
How to Assess Students
Learning and Performance?
• CREATING ASSIGNMENTS
• CREATING EXAMS
• USING CLASSROOM ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES
• USING CONCEPT MAPS
• USING CONCEPT TESTS
• ASSESSING GROUP WORK
• CREATING AND USING RUBRICS
Assessment in education must reflect reality and
have an accurate measure of a students knowledge,
skills, and values. In relation to this, classroom
assessment it may classified into four. These are:

1. Selected Responses Assessment

2. Essay Assessment
3. Performance Assessment
4. Personal Communication (Stiggins, 1997)
1. Selected Responses Assessment;

Teaching a mother tongue, or native language,

involves developing a student's listening,
speaking, reading, and writing skills. Selected
responses assessment can be used effectively
in this context. Here are some examples:
Examples:
• Multiple Choice Questions:
These can be used to test
vocabulary, grammar, and
comprehension skills. For
example, you might provide
a sentence with a missing
word and ask students to
choose the correct word
from a list of options.
• True or False Questions:
These can be used to check
students' understanding of
a text they've read or a
conversation they've
listened to. You could
provide statements about
the text or conversation
and ask students to decide
whether they are true or
false.
• Matching Questions:
These can be used to
test a variety of language
skills. For example, you
might ask students to
match words with their
definitions, sentences
with their correct
translations, or pictures
with their corresponding
words.
• Fill in the Blanks:
This type of question
can be used to
assess grammar and
vocabulary. You
could provide a
sentence or
paragraph with
missing words and
ask students to fill in
the blanks.
• Multiple Response
Questions: These can be
used to test
comprehension and
critical thinking skills.
For example, after
reading a text, you
might ask a question
that has more than one
correct answer.
Remember, while selected responses
assessments are useful for testing
specific language skills, they should be
supplemented with other forms of
assessment (like oral presentations,
written essays, or projects) to fully
evaluate a student's proficiency in their
mother tongue.
2) Essay Assessment;

In elementary grades, the focus of essay

assessments in teaching a mother tongue
would be more on developing basic writing
skills, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
Here's an example of an essay assessment
suitable for elementary grades:
Assignment: Write a short essay about "My Favorite Animal"

Instructions:

1. Introduction: Begin your essay by introducing your favorite animal. Tell us the
name of the animal and a little bit about why you like it.
2. Body: In the body of your essay, describe your favorite animal in more detail. You
can talk about its appearance, where it lives, what it eats, and any interesting facts
about it. Use descriptive words to make your essay more engaging.
3. Conclusion: End your essay by summarizing why this animal is your favorite and
how it makes you feel.
Criteria for Evaluation:

Your essay will be evaluated based on the following:

1. Content: Does your essay clearly describe your favorite animal and
why you like it?
2. Organization: Is your essay well-organized with a clear introduction,
body, and conclusion?
3. Language Use: Is your essay written in clear and correct mother
tongue? Did you use descriptive words to make your essay
interesting?
Remember, at the elementary level, the
focus is on developing basic writing skills
and language proficiency. Provide
constructive feedback that highlights the
student's efforts, strengths, and areas for
improvement. Encourage creativity and the
use of their mother tongue to express their
thoughts and ideas.
3) Performance Assessment

Performance assessment in teaching mother tongue in

elementary grades is an important aspect of education.
Research shows that using the mother tongue in
instruction can have a positive impact on students'
performance.

When assessing the performance of students in teaching

mother tongue in elementary grades, various
assessment methods can be used. Here are a few
examples:
Oral Presentations: Students can
be asked to give oral
presentations in the mother
tongue, where they demonstrate
their understanding of a
particular topic or concept. This
can assess their language
proficiency, communication
skills, and ability to express ideas
effectively.
Written Assignments:
Assignments such as essays,
short stories, or journal
entries can be given to
students to assess their
writing skills in the mother
tongue. This can evaluate
their grammar, vocabulary
usage, and overall language
proficiency.
Group Discussions:
Students can participate in
group discussions or
debates in the mother
tongue, where they express
their opinions, listen to
others, and engage in
meaningful conversations.
This can assess their ability
to communicate,
collaborate, and critically
think in the mother tongue.
Language Proficiency
Assessments: Specific
assessments can be
conducted to evaluate
students' language
proficiency in the mother
tongue. This can include tests
on grammar, vocabulary,
reading comprehension, and
listening skills.
Performance Tasks:
Performance tasks can be
designed to assess students'
application of knowledge
and skills in real-life
situations. For example,
students can be asked to
create a presentation,
perform a role play, or solve
a problem using the mother
tongue.
It is important for teachers to align the
assessment methods with the learning
objectives and outcomes of the mother tongue
curriculum. They should provide clear criteria
and rubrics for assessment and provide
constructive feedback to support students'
learning and growth.

Please note that these examples are general and

can vary depending on the specific context,
language, and curriculum of the mother tongue
being taught.
4) Personal communication (stiggins, 1997)

Personal communication plays a crucial role in

teaching mother tongue in elementary grades.
It involves establishing a strong connection
between the teacher and the students,
creating a supportive and engaging learning
environment.
Here's an example of how personal communication
can be applied in teaching mother tongue in
elementary grades:

During a language lesson, the teacher introduces a

new vocabulary word in the mother tongue. Instead
of simply providing a definition, the teacher engages
in personal communication with the students to
enhance their understanding and connection to the
word.
Scenario: Teacher: "Today, we're going to learn a new word in our
mother tongue, Tagalog. The word is 'malikhain,' which
means creative. Can anyone think of a time when you
felt really creative?"

Student 1: "I like drawing, and sometimes I come up

with my own characters and stories."

Teacher: "That's wonderful, Student 1! Drawing and

creating your own characters show your creativity.
Anyone else?"

Student 2: "I enjoy making up songs and singing them."

Teacher: "That's fantastic, Student 2! Making up songs is

a great way to express your creativity. Thank you for
sharing."
By engaging in personal communication, the teacher
encourages students to share their experiences and
ideas related to the vocabulary word. This not only helps
deepen their understanding of the word but also creates
a sense of connection and relevance to their own lives.

Remember, personal communication in teaching mother

tongue involves creating an open and inclusive space
where students can express themselves confidently and
celebrate their language and heritage.
Language Assessment Scheme
The term "Language Assessment Scheme" refers
to a systematic and structured approach used to
evaluate and measure an individual's language
proficiency and skills. It involves the design and
implementation of assessments to determine the level of
competence in a particular language.
A language assessment scheme typically includes various
components and methods to assess different language skills,
such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing. It aims to
provide a comprehensive evaluation of an individual's
language abilities and to gather reliable and valid information
about their language proficiency.

Overall, a language assessment scheme provides a structured

framework for assessing and evaluating language proficiency,
allowing for consistent and standardized evaluation of
language skills in various contexts.
Example of Language
Assessment Scheme
Thank you!