Proseminar Assessment and Testing in the EFL

PS Fehn SS 2013 ”Assessment and Testing in the EFL-, Thursday 8-10 am Course description Evaluating and grading learners’ performance is a demanding challenge, especially for young teachers. How can we correct pupils’ mistakes in oral and written production? How can we -teach to the test- and prepare learners for final exams? And how can class tests finally be graded? In this seminar, we are going to analyze different mistakes that occur in pupils’ usage of English as well as the question how learners can become aware of their own mistakes. Language awareness and cultural knowledge are of crucial importance in this approach. We are going to discuss the question whether it is possible to improve each learner’s individual language proficiency and - at the same time - prepare them for standardized tests. Educational standards and common descriptors e.g. prescribed in the Common European Framework of References for Languages, the German Zentralabitur and the orientation on competences and standards will thus be taken into consideration. Students are offered the possibility to analyze written class tests and to create class tests on their own (Sek 1 and 2). They are going to learn how to design and to correct class tests. Studienleistung : Students are expected to participate regularly and actively as well as to read the given literature. In small groups, they are asked to present theoretical approaches and to work on a competence-oriented unit resulting in a class test. These units should be presented in the seminar. Additionally, students are asked to hand in reports about the seminar regularly. Modulleistung : Students can write a term paper of 15 pages if they have successfully completed the Studienleistungen . Literature: see Semesterapparat, more information in the seminar Bemerkung This is an interactive seminar, regular active participation is required. This complies with the regulations of the university. FB 02 Institut für Anglistik / Amerikanistik Uni Kassel SoSe 2013 English and American Studies NF English and American Culture and Business Studies Fehn Corinna