Testing and Teaching

Testing and Teaching

Testing and teaching are interrelated and tests are unavoidable in the process of teaching and learning a language. English language tests are given in order to:
1. motivate the learner,
2. reinforce learning,
3. assess the learner s achievement,
4. diagnose the learners strengths and weaknesses,
5. measure aptitude for learning,
6. determine readiness or instructional programmers,
7. classify or place individuals in appropriate language classes and
8. evaluate the effectiveness of instruction,

Tests motivate learners and make them aware of their areas of weakness or strength when putting their language into use at school or elsewhere.

On discovering weakness learners will try to bridge the gap by working harder on those areas of language that require improved achievement. Discovering areas of strength gives the learners more confidence in themselves and, thus, paves the way for consolidation of language skills they are working at.
Awell-prepared test reinforces learning. Tests not only allow learners to show how much English they have learnt within a given period but are also conducive to learning. The process of giving the right answer is considered a learning activity in itself.

A good test enables the teacher to assess the learner s achievement within a specific course of study. Short monthly tests and/or mid-year examinations enable the teacher to have a clear view of the achievement of his students.
Public examinations influence teaching. They orient teaching. The English Language teacher has two things in mind:
1. the textbook
2. the examination format

The examination format as set by the Ministry of Education (i.e. in the Baccalaureate Examinations) tends to force teachers to keep that format in mind throughout process they adopt in the classroom.

Teaching influences testing as well. The approach adopted in language teaching, the style of textbooks used and the quality of teacher available are constrainststhat the examining boards of the Ministry o Education have to take into account when designing tests on a nationwide level.

Full period tests can be used to test learner s achievement at the end of a unit or a set of units. However, ten-minute tests(i.e. quizzes) can be used to test different aspects of the learners achievement with material taught in a previous lesson. A daily quiz gives learners confidence and motivation to learn the foreign language. To administer a quiz the teacher has to:

1. base the quiz on material given the lesson before.
2. correct the answers as soon as possible, and
3. discuss areas of difficulty with the learners.

However , the fundamental difference between a quiz and a test is in the emphasis on the former being much more strongly directed towards motivation.
To sum up, English language test of the type used in our schools aim
at evaluating:
1. individual performance
2. group performance
3. teacher performance
4. the textbook

However, testing is only one criterion of learner s evaluation . Other criteria for the evolution of learners are attendance, participation in class work, homework and reports.