test of oral performance

Summary

In this lecture on assessing oral performance, the speaker outlines key strategies for evaluating students' speaking skills. The process involves three stages: warming up, the main task, and roundup. Various contexts for testing are discussed, including social, occupational, and educational English. The speaker highlights the importance of clear illustrations and instructions to engage students in realistic scenarios, such as missing a flight or participating in an interview. By providing engaging contexts and structured tasks, educators can effectively assess students' ability to communicate orally in diverse situations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Oral performance tests primarily assess speaking skills, though listening can also be a component.
• 😀 There are three key stages in an oral performance test: warming up, the main task, and roundup.
• 😀 Warming up helps students establish rapport and prepare for the interaction, making them more comfortable during the test.
• 😀 The main task involves giving students real testing materials or scenarios to respond to, such as role-playing exercises.
• 😀 Roundup encourages students to express their own views and helps assess their ability to contribute in a conversation.
• 😀 Different types of oral performance tests include social English, occupational English, interviews, and educational English.
• 😀 Social English tests often involve realistic situations, like role-playing a missed flight scenario at an airport.
• 😀 Occupational English assessments focus on practical, everyday communication, such as describing objects or asking simple questions.
• 😀 Interview contexts simulate common real-life situations where students engage in a formal conversation, such as a job interview.
• 😀 Educational English assessments cover higher-level discussions, such as agreeing/disagreeing, drawing conclusions, and critical appraisal.
• 😀 Effective oral performance tests require clear illustrations and well-structured instructions to guide students' responses.

Q & A

What are the main stages of an oral performance test?

The main stages of an oral performance test are warming up, the main task, and roundup. Warming up helps establish rapport, the main task focuses on the assessment, and roundup encourages students to express their individual views.

What is the purpose of the warming up stage in oral performance testing?

The purpose of the warming up stage is to make students feel comfortable, establish rapport, and ensure they are ready to perform. This stage allows students to get accustomed to the test environment.

How does the main task of the oral performance test differ from warming up?

The main task is the core part of the test where students are assessed based on specific scenarios. Unlike warming up, which is preparatory, the main task directly evaluates the students' oral performance in realistic situations.

Can you explain what the roundup stage involves in the oral performance test?

The roundup stage encourages students to share their own views and opinions on the topic discussed during the test. It is an interactive part of the test where students contribute more personally to the conversation.

What is an example of a social English oral performance test scenario?

An example is the airport scenario where a student who has missed a flight needs to contact the information desk and make arrangements for a later flight, role-playing as the passenger or clerk.

How does occupational English oral performance testing differ from social English testing?

Occupational English testing focuses on professional or work-related contexts, such as describing objects or using polite language in formal settings, while social English testing deals with everyday communication in more casual situations.

What role does clarity in the illustration play in oral performance tests?

Clarity in the illustration is crucial because it ensures students fully understand the context and expectations of the task. This helps them perform the test more effectively and accurately.

How is the structure of oral performance tests consistent across different contexts?

The structure remains the same across contexts, where a clear illustration is provided, followed by instructions for students to perform based on the given scenario. The only variation is the context itself (social, occupational, or interview-based).

What types of tasks are typically used to assess occupational English oral skills?

Occupational English tasks often involve describing objects, performing simple activities, answering questions, and using conventional politeness formulas in professional settings.

What is the significance of the interview context in oral performance testing?

The interview context is significant because it mimics real-life situations, such as job interviews, where students must demonstrate their speaking abilities in a formal, professional setting through dialogue with an interviewer.