June 14, 2017, 09:28:51 PM


Author Topic: Speaking test questions: advice needed  (Read 562 times)

Offline Skyehawks

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Speaking test questions: advice needed
« on: March 13, 2017, 03:10:44 PM »
So I am the teacher that makes the English speaking tests that are part of both the midterm and final exams for my students at the high school.

This year I am doing a conversation building class, and as such am doing paired speaking tests.

So instead of asking questions for students to create a short answer response to, this year they must study types of conversations used in scenarios (we will study all of them in class and play games that reinforce the type of language in them)

So my speaking tests are random drawings, meaning I give them 3 scenarios to study and on the day of the exam they pull a number out of a bag and have a conversation based on that scenario.

So I am considering the following 3 scenarios for the first semester speaking test.

1. You are hungry and at a restaurant. You must decide on what food to order and place an order with the waiter. (for this scenario one student is the customer one is the waiter)

2. You are about to go on a date with your partner. You must decide on where to go for your date AND what to do on the date OR what to eat on the date. (conversation will revolve around where to go and what to do or eat at the location- i.e. are they going to a restaurant for dinner or the zoo to see animals... etc.)

3. You are an American in Korea. You are lost in Jinju. You run into a Korean and decide to ask for directions. (In this one student plays the lost foreigner and asks for directions, and the other has to give directions)

My speaking test are set up so that they only have to have about a 3 minute conversation (most I can do and still test everyone).

My question to my fellow waygookians, Does this wording sound okay? Or would you change any of the wording? If you would change the wording, how would you change it?

To clarify my coteacher and I will give translations for the questions and the guidelines for exactly what I am looking for in the answers.


Offline The Arm

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2017, 04:01:21 PM »
The wording looks good to me!  I think it's a really nice idea to do your speaking tests like this.

What kind of level are they?  If they're not high level I'd worry about them running out of things to say after thirty seconds  :sad:

Offline Skyehawks

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2017, 04:28:59 PM »
One is year one of high school who are at a better start than my students from last year. The other is third year who I taught last year.

I am not too worried about running out of material. I am teaching ever conversation in class and giving them the scenarios two months in advance as midterms wont be until the end of next month-ish depending on schedules

Offline The Arm

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2017, 05:01:54 PM »
Giving them the material a couple of months in advance is a good idea too.  I do the same. 

It covers yourself as well because no one can claim that you didn't give them time to prepare (although I've had plenty of classes and teachers do exactly that  :evil:).

Hope it goes well!

Offline Falling_Sky

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2017, 05:51:16 PM »
Looks interesting!

Just a suggestion, but depending on their level, I would probably make the questions very clear. For e.g.
Student A - waiter
Student B - customer
What - At a restaurant ordering food.

Other than that I would change:
"place an order with" to "order from"
"about to go on a date with your partner" to "going on a date with your boyfriend /girlfriend" (high school students wouldn't really call each partners I imagine)
"run into" to "meet"
"decide to ask" to "ask"

Again it all depends on their level on what you will be teaching them. I know my students I would have to make as simple as possible.

Offline Skyehawks

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2017, 06:09:51 PM »
I used the word partners because the breakdown of my high school classes is weird. Out of 6 classes I have one class that is equal male and female students. The other classes run about 60-80% one gender. So I just put partner (as is who you are working with, not dating)

Offline Falling_Sky

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2017, 06:15:10 PM »
Ah I see~  :laugh:

I think that's a better idea. The awkwardness and teasing from pretending to be boyfriend & girlfriend would probably be too much  :laugh:

Offline Skyehawks

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Re: Speaking test questions: advice needed
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2017, 01:37:31 AM »
I know right. And to think, I am the one who teases them the most when it comes to that. Muahahahaha. They love me though

 

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