It should be noted that
the main objective of the English conversation course is to help students
develop their oral proficiency in the target language. Therefore, our teaching
procedure as well as the evaluation process should conform to the objective
stated above. Whatever the teaching procedure carried out in the classroom by
respective teachers, evaluation procedure (written tests) seems deviant from
the objectives. In other words, our written tests do not test what the students
can do with the language instead they mostly focus on to test what the students
cannot do with the language.
Since speaking is a
productive skill, it should be tested orally. However, since we have written
tests, then, they should test what students can produce in writing. When
examining our test papers, it is evident that most questions except one or two
aim to test the reading ability of the students on one hand and, on the other
their standards are low. Given the problem stated above, to improve the quality
of the English conversation course written tests, I suggest that the format of
the test papers should be re-structured as follow so that students will have
opportunities for producing the language they know in writing.
Current format
1. Gap
filling
2. Matching
items
3. Multiple
choice questions
4. Ordering
a conversation
5. Comprehension
questions based on a passage
6. Writing
activity
Suggested format
1. Gap
filling-based on a conversation (words provided) – 10X2=20points
2. Multiple
choice questions- 5X2=10points
3. Ordering
a conversation -10X2=20
4. Picture
description-(a picture is given, the answer should consist of at least ten
sentences) 2X10=20
5. Completing
a conversation with appropriate sentences/questions. Use your own
sentences- 3X5=15
Eg. A: What did you do on Friday?
B:_______________________
A:_______________________
B: The movie was so exciting and funny.
6. Writing
a short a conversation based on a given situation. Each person in the conversation
should speak at least ten utterances and they need not to be complete
sentences-2X10=20 (For example see below)
English
Conversation 1 890-212- Proposed sample test paper
1. The conversation below is
about a boy called Jack and a girl called Helen. They are talking about a rock
festival. Fill in the blanks with correct words choosing from the list of words
given in the box. You don’t need to use all the words. (2X10=20)
| book, Don’t, were, expected, rock,
vegetarians, festival, concert, see, supposed, meet, good, was, ate, go |
Girl: Hi Jack, how are you?
were brilliant, yes, but I have to say it wasn’t
as _______ as I thought it would be.
Girl: Oh, why’s that?
happen.
food there?
Boy: It wasn’t bad.
Girl: So much choice, especially
for __________ like me … and there never seemed to be many
queues.
Boy: Mmm. You know, I enjoyed the
afternoon …
2. Multiple choice questions to be extracted
from the test booklet Person to Person (2006) Oxford University Press. (5 questions
2X5=10points)
3. Put following conversation in order.
(2X10=20points)
____A: Hi, Burt. I
heard you're looking for a new job.
____A: Oh. How did
it go? ____A: This Friday? Looks like they want to hire the person as quickly as possible.
____A: What are your chances of getting that job?
___A: Well, good luck, then.
____B: Thanks. I hope it helps.
____B: Yeah. I just
had an interview yesterday.
____B: I think I did
well. They said they would make a decision by this Friday.
____B: Yeah! I think so, too.
____B: I believe I have a very good chance.
The director seems to like me.
4. Study the picture below and describe
it in as much detail as you can. You can use the words given in brackets). You
need to write at least 10 sentences. (2X10=20points)
(Market, buy, check, fruit, customers)
5. A and B are having a conversation.
Imagine you are B and complete your part. Use your own sentences. (3X5=15)
A: How are things going
with you and your roommate?
B: ___________________________________________
A: I know how you feel. I used to have a roommate like
that. He never cared about me.
B: ____________________________________________
A: Yes, he was very bad, but my new
roommate is very helpful and understanding.
B:_____________________________________________
A: To tell you. Last week, we went out
for dinner.
B:_____________________________________________
A: Yes, you’re right. He paid our bill.
B:
_____________________________________________
A: 550 baht.
6. Write a short conversation in any one
of the following situations given below. Your conversation should include at
least ten sentences (utterances) by each speaker. (2X10=20points)
Situation 1
A:
You
Imagine you want to go shopping with one of your
friends. Call your friend and ask if he/she could go with you this afternoon.
You should tell your friend where you hope to go shopping/what time/what items
you want to buy/ how you plan to go and any other information you think is
relevant.
B:
Your friend
You are A’s friend. A calls you and invites you to
go shopping with him/her. Accept the invitation and get the required
information by asking questions such as “Where are you going?” “What time are
you going?”
Situation 2
A:
You
Suppose you are a foreigner who has arrived in
Hatyai and want to check into a hotel. Go to a hotel and inquire about the
availability of room. You should ask the room charges/facilities available in
the rooms and other information you need.
B:
A receptionist in a hotel
You are a receptionist in a hotel, Hatyai. A
foreigner has come to your desk and inquires about rooms in your hotel. Help
him reserve a room. You should provide him/her with relevant information such
as the types of rooms available/ facilities they have/ the charges per night
etc.
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