Classroom-Based Assessment for English Language Teachers

The primary objective of this new online course is the development of English language teachers’

assessment literacy, which includes knowledge of key assessment principles, and skill in creating or

adopting assessment tools and procedures for the language classroom. Participant of this course will

develop their knowledge and skills related to assessing all skill areas in the English language classroom,

including the productive skills (Writing, Speaking), receptive skills (Reading, Listening), as well as

assessing Grammar and Vocabulary. Designed specifically for in-service (and pre-service) English

language teachers, the course combines theory with practice by covering essential principles of effective

classroom assessment, as well as the development of effective assessment tools for classroom use.

Participants completing this course will become more assessment literate and better able to evaluate

student performance in their classrooms fairly and effectively.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

(General)

1. Define assessment literacy, and identify some of the issues and challenges related to being an

assessment literate language teacher

2. Compare the different functions and types of assessment

3. Describe the different types of tasks that could be included on a paper test and their

advantages/disadvantages

4. Identify the major principles of language assessment (i.e. validity, reliability, etc.), and apply

them to assess the effectiveness of teacher-made tests

5. Develop a language test based on these major assessment principles

(Assessing Productive Skills: Writing, Speaking)

1. Understand principles and best practices associated with assessing writing, including the use of

effective tasks and scoring scales (rubrics)

2. Gain a practical overview of how speaking can be tested

3. Create effective tasks to assess and score oral ability

(Assessing Receptive Skills: Reading, Listening)

1. Recognize major reading skills and sub-skills, and determine best tasks to use to assess them

2. Identify the major approaches to the assessment of listening

3. Describe the main techniques for assessing listening comprehension

CESL Teacher Training Program – Curriculum Guide Page 2

(Assessing Grammar & Vocabulary)

1. Recognize the purposes and contexts for assessing grammatical knowledge

2. Analyze the components of lexical ability, and apply them to the assessment of vocabulary

knowledge

3. Design tests that effectively assess grammar and vocabulary