Meeting 04 • 07 April 2011

Version:
4/11/11
Today • my deadline page

numbers in ( ) = minutes planned for activity/ topic
√ = topic / activity that was adequately dealt with during the class
+ = topic needs more attention & will be resumed at next / subsequent meeting(s)
- = a topic / activity that was proposed but not carried out (but will be taken up later)
N = a topic / activity that was proposed but not included / is not going to be taken up after all
Red italic text like this = comments after the meeting
Main topic(s): Introduction to Assessment; the FL and AL Cultures

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(5) Review of previous meeting: main points; thoughts in the meantime?

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(5) (possibility a regular feature:) assessment in the news! Strike vote at MCC. What happens to teaching and assessment when faculty go on strike? Pres.Wiewel visits WLL department meeting and hears about the work of the WLL Assessment Committee. Also: right before this meeting I had an unexpected talk with a student from another class who had had a very negative experience with another instructor. Because of the tenure system and the validation of research over teaching, he (and the others who are also angry about it) can't do much about that instructor. But students CAN have a positive effect on the careers of outstanding teachers by writing departmental chairs about it.

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(30) ACTFL Guidelines (speaking and writing) - general issues (history, structure, criticism). Guestimate levels of learners you have encountered.
Some bibliography (some just abstracts, due to © issues): Liskin-Gasparro (2003), history and survival of Guidelines (0390abs); Fischer (1984), on testing and curriculum in GER 10X (0054); Swender (2003), answers to real-world questions (0391abs)
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(20) The OPI (media clips) - structure, examiner stance, question types. Example from Spanish (AmiMartin - higher-quality video in class; audio-only version linked here)
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(10) Start Assignment 2 (evaluate your own speaking proficiency), due 14 April. Preview Assignment #3 (Pseudo-OPI)

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(10) The draft French 103 test (but not long discussion - assessing writing will come up later) Discussed for about 20 minutes after class.

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(10) backgrounds and professional interests of instructor; embarrassing example of one of his old tests (0347), for which he pleads the excuses of youth and lack of training

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(10) Announcements: 14 April ePortfolio Workshop; WBF schedule - IAC 19 April, 3:30-5:00, SMSU 258; need to acquire Stevens, Rubrics; debriefing and summation
Upcoming class meetings

12 & 19 April: structure of OPI; role-play situations; writing up the evaluation; maybe introduction to rubrics
Upcoming assignment(s)

This section offers a PREVIEW, not activated assignments. Assignments are made, with announcement of their deadlines, both in class and on the "schedule" page. The next topic (week 2, 5 & 7 April) is "Language 'gold standards'": ACTFL Guidelines, the standards and test instruments of the European Union and ••?? and the TOEFL Test. Also information about where to find other widely-circulated tests. The FL participants will get an assignment that emphasizes ACTFL Guidelines; ••?? the AL participants will get one that focuses on the TOEFL. All participants will rate themselves (or someone else) on the ACTFL scale, by comparison to its profiles. ••?? All participants will examine items from the TOEFL test.
Announcements

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Misc.

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