On 11/02/09, Newteach wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I was just wondering how any of you would respond to the
> question 1. "Explain your general approach to assessment in
> English?" and then...2."How do you use data about the
> students' work to assist in your planning?"
>
> I really fumbled this question in a job interview, mainly
> because it was my first one and I was so nervous that my
> voice was shaking, but I am interested to see how others
> would approach this question.
>
> Thanks :)

As writing is the particular outcome of English, student
writing would be the primary assessment of their skills and
the growth in them. Any other form of assessment in the
English class would be much less authentic. Of course, the
four skills - reading, writing, listening and speaking are
all of vital importance so there would be opportunities for
assessment in terms of speaking projects as well but the
primary assessment used would be their writing.

In the second question you were thrown by the word 'data' -
don't let jargon throw you off. They're asking - would you
consider student work and what it shows you as you plan?

Of course you would - teachers do that. If you get a slew of
student papers and you see that most of them have no
subject/verb agreement, then you'd stop and you'd
teach/review that concept before going on and before
assigning another writing project or paper.

A jargon answer to their jargon question would be ' data
derived from students that reflects their skill level and
skill sets would be as key to planning as is the structured
curriculum, of course. The given curriculum is the guide -
the data derived from students including their written work
or their performance on standardized tests for example shows
how ready they are to move forward in the curriculum. Data,
gentlemen and ladies, is fundamental to planning. Otherwise,
we plan in a vacuum of knowledge about the students in front
of us.
May I ask what data you had in mind specifically or was it a
general question?"

These questions by the way are something they've gotten out
of a book - there's no heart to these questions. Don't let
them throw you. Smile warmly. And it's FINE to answer a
question with a question. "May I ask what data?"

That first question they asked you translates to 'how are you
going to test the kids in English?"
Goodluck.

Share This Post | Report This Post

Next Post >>

Posts on this thread, including this one