Synopsis
By Licda. Guiselle Weelkly
Tests for Young Learners
The following is a summary of general approaches to tests the young learners learning abilities as well as to give suggestions as to how this may be done.
The ages that it takes into consideration are from five to twelve years old.
Teachers can drop into the mistake of not considering the children's learning styles, causing damage to them, maybe by insensitive, inapropiate testing.
Whenever young children are going to be tested their test must provide an opportunity to develop positive attitude towards assessment and also to help them recognize the value of assessment.
The following are three recommendations that will help to make young learners experiences better as they go forward in their learning process as well as in their tests.
1* A special assessment is when the testing becomes an integral part of assessment, and assessment an integral part of the teaching programme.
2* Feedback from tests should be immediate and positive.
3* Self assessment by the children should become part of the teaching programme.
The ages that it takes into consideration are from five to twelve years old.
Teachers can drop into the mistake of not considering the children's learning styles, causing damage to them, maybe by insensitive, inapropiate testing.
Whenever young children are going to be tested their test must provide an opportunity to develop positive attitude towards assessment and also to help them recognize the value of assessment.
The following are three recommendations that will help to make young learners experiences better as they go forward in their learning process as well as in their tests.
1* A special assessment is when the testing becomes an integral part of assessment, and assessment an integral part of the teaching programme.
2* Feedback from tests should be immediate and positive.
3* Self assessment by the children should become part of the teaching programme.
Particular Demands
As teacher we need to make sure that our tests are valid and reliable, therefore, seeking positive backwash is more important than ever. Here the crucial elements are the writing of full specifications and the choice of appropiate test techniques.
It will be appropiate to take into account the followings:
- Young learners have a relatively short attention span.
- Children enjoy stories and play.
- Children respond well to pictures, attractive typography and colors.
- First language and cognitive abilities are still developing, they should feel comfortable handlying the tasks in their own language.
- Include tasks that relate with interaction between two or more children, remember they learn through social interaction.
The aim here is to include easy tasks at the beginning of a test in order to give students the confidence to tackle the more difficult ones, also be a sympathetic teacher so that they can sense the idea of familiarity with you, encouraging a peaceful, respectable environment.
