Authentic and systematic assessment of a student's language development is essential in this time of high stakes testing throughout the U.S. Presenters share a K-12 language proficiency rubric, the benchmark guides that accompany it, and the results of a study done to validate this authentic assessment. This demonstration illustrates how to integrate assessment, instruction, and fun in large EFL classrooms. Different methods of performance assessment are presented. A case study is reported briefly. The audience is involved through worksheets, handouts, and sample materials.
Participants review and create authentic tasks that support their specific instructional needs.
They share materials developed to address these responses. The session concludes with participant discussion about test design, administration, and preparation materials. The presenters describe how portfolio assessment has been carried out in an English program for 250 high school students in Caracas, Venezuela, which incorporates a multimedia lab. The program design is briefly described, and progressive attempts at coping with the complexities of portfolio assessment in large groups are presented. The presenters discuss the implications of the study for ESL instruction and writing assessment.