Lesson 1
Principles and Purposes of
Language Assessment
FAITH J. TINONG
Instructor
1. explored the different definitions of concepts
Learning related to language and literature assessment;
Objectives: 2. explained the principles that govern effective
assessment and evaluation.
At the end of
3. discuss the purposes of language testing;
this module,
the students 4. identify the functions of language test in
education; and
should be able
to: 5. acknowledge the value of assessment in the
language-teaching learning process.
At the beginning of these modules, it is essential to define terms
related to language assessment that are often confused with another
because in some books they are used interchangeably.
Language
Assessment Test
Testing
Measurement Evaluation
Testing. It refers to a tool technique or a
Language Testing. Allen, (2019)
method that is intended to measure
explained that it is the practice and
students‘ knowledge or their ability to
study on how to evaluate the
complete particular tasks. In this sense,
proficiency of an individual in using a
testing can be considered as form of
language effectively
assessmen (Rhalmi, 2019).
. 4. Measurement. It is the technique of
evaluation that uses tests and other
procedure and instrument which is
generally precise and objective. This
generally results in quantitative data
and characteristically can express its
results in numerical form (Bhat, 2020.)
ASSESSMENT AND
EVALUATION
PRINCIPLES
Assessment and evaluation are essential components of teaching-learning process.
They should be planned, continuous activities which are derived from curriculum
objectives and consistent with the instructional and learning strategies.
2. A variety of assessment and evaluation techniques should be selected for their
appropriateness to students‘ learning styles and to the intended purposes. Students
should be given opportunities to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge, abilities,
and attitudes in a variety of ways.
3. Teachers should communicate assessment and evaluation strategies and plan in
advance, informing the students of the objectives and the assessment procedures
relative to the objectives. Students should have opportunities for input into the
evaluation process.
4. Assessment and evaluation should be fair and equitable. They should
be sensitive to family; classroom, school and community situations as
well as to cultural or gender requirements; they should be of free of bias.
5. Assessment and evaluation should help students. They should provide
positive feedback and encourage students to participate actively in their
own assessment in order to foster lifelong learning and enable them to
transfer knowledge and abilities to their life experiences.
6. Assessment and evaluation data and results should be communicated
to students and parents/guardians regularly, in meaningful ways.
7. Assessment and evaluation should use a variety of techniques and
tools. The teacher collects assessment information about students‘
language development and their growth in speaking, listening, writing
and reading knowledge and abilities. The data gathered during
assessment becomes the basis for an evaluation. Comparing
assessment information to curriculum objectives allows the teacher to
make decision or judgment regarding the progress of the student‘s
learning.
FUNCTIONS OF
LANGUAGE
TESTS
In learning, tests are used to
measure students‘ language
ability to discover how much
they have been learning, to
diagnose students‘ strengths
and weaknesses and to motivate
students in learning.
In teaching, tests are
used as a means to
ensure effective teaching
in order to improve
teaching quality, to
obtain feedback on
student learning place or
in a course.
In research, language tests
have a potentially important
role in virtually all research,
both basic and applied, that is
related to the nature of
language proficiency,
language processing, language
acquisition, language attrition
and language teaching.
Discussion:
1. Differentiate testing, assessment,
evaluation and measurement.
2. What essential principles about assessment
and evaluation should educators, especially
teachers, bear in mind?
3. What are the roles of assessment in
teaching, in learning and in research?
4. What are the functions of language test?
Assignment:
1. Take a short video of yourself (not less than 3
minutes) while discussing the functions and
importance of tests.
