SETTING PURPOSE FOR ASSESSMENT: SELECTING THE RIGHT ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT
Аннотация
There is a direct link between assessment and teaching, which is not always taken into consideration. This may prevent assessment fulfilling teaching process and helping achieve teaching aims. The issue raised in the article is related to factors connecting assessment to language teaching. In particular, it discusses about how to make assessment purposeful and how to opt for the right alternative so that teaching could meet learners` needs and teachers` objectives. By investigating existing materials on the topic, the author discusses the classification of tests according to their functions; and provides a five-component guideline that helps language teachers assess their students` language skills purposefully. Suggested guideline highlights the importance of teachers` awareness of abovementioned classification. Moreover, the article includes detailed description of three forms of alternative assessment — portfolios, journals and peer-assessment. By discussing benefits of those three alternatives and challenges in their application, the author proposes some recommendations concerning the use of each assessment form.