Assessments for English Language Learners

Assessing is an influential tool in determining the learning outcome in students. Therefore, it is the responsibility of teachers to utilize the various assessment ways in order to determine the progress of their students. This paper seeks to explain the value of diagnostic, formative and summative assessments for English Language Learners (ELL). It also goes further to summarize the five alternative assessment formats and the importance of each feature.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assessments for English Language Learners specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Diagnostic assessment involves evaluating the individual current knowledge and skills in order to distinguish the appropriate learning program for him. This is particularly important to the English Language Learners since it helps them in assessing of their own self. Another form of diagnostic assessment includes forward looking assessment which helps in ass essment of the individual future events. It is worthy to mention that diagnostic assessment is a form of formative assessment. Formative assessment is done throughout the learning process. Formative assessment involves the activities that are performed by the students and the teachers which results in information that is used as a feed back to improve the learning and teaching process. This type of assessment is usually used by teachers to review their approaches in teaching and also determine the next step of the learner. Formative assessment does not necessarily involve grading of the students but its main aim is to help in learning of the subject (English) (Chappuis, 2005). The formative assessment is characterized by; improved quality interactions in the classroom, students are involved in the learning process, feedback is issued between the students and teachers in order for them to improve on their work and sharing criteria between the students and the teachers. Summative asse ssment involves analyzing the learning outcomes and consequently reporting the outcomes to the parties concerned (Chappuis, 2005). This is usually done at the end of the class, term, course, semester or the end of the year in order to summarize the achievements of the student. Students are normally graded according to their respective performance in the subject undertaken. The most used English language proficiency (EPL) test in the school is ACCESS for ELLs (Stiggins, 2007). ACCESS test is used for assessing communication and understanding of English language among the people who use the language. It has an aim of developing the standards of English language through the test and instructions issued to the learner. The standard of this test is graded according to the performance indicator that has five clusters of grades.Advertising Looking for essay on languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More ACCESS tests have got advantage s in that it is more secure as compared to other shelf tests, ACCESS tests are based on the standards of each country and ACCESS tests emphasizes on English as a social language. However the main drawback of ACCESS tests is that it fails to recognize the knowledge of the student i.e. it fails to assess if the student has comprehended the use of English language. Assessment in classroom can take various different forms (Stiggin Chappuis, 2005). Alternative assessment formats in English Language Learners include; selected response, written response that are extended, performance assessment, personal communication which are direct and portfolios (Freeman Lewis, 2002). Selected response allows the teacher to assess enough information about the learner. This is also helpful to the student since it is easier to use and gives the student an opportunity to choose from the options that are given. Questions that require the selected response form the student are objective. The likely questi ons that need selected response include; questions with multiple choice, matching questions and true or false questions. Written response compels the student learning English to answer the question in writing rather than orally. The student is expected to come up with sentences which try to explain or answer the question that has been asked. Therefore the students need to have sufficient skills in English in order for a good performance. As a result of this, written response which is extended assesses the reasoning capacity of the student and also learning difficulties in students. Performance assessment entails the student capability to handle a given task without the assistance of the instructor or the teacher. The teacher will then assess the efforts of the students and then judge according to the observations. Personal communication which is direct involves both formal and informal interaction between the student and the teacher in an academic setting. This form of assessment is crucial since it helps the teacher to share opinions with the students, helps to find out how much the students have learnt and also boost the morale of the learners through encouragement.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Assessments for English Language Learners specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Last but not least there is portfolio as an alternative to assessment formats. Portfolio concerns the various works which has been done by the student which illustrates an improvement in learning. Therefore portfolio is made up of the reflection in the learning process that give the student ability t be responsible of their own learning. It follows that the schools should use the alternative assessment format instead of ELP tests. This is because the alternative assessment format will assess the individual understanding of the English. On the contrary, the EPL tests fail in doing so. The above evidence is sufficient enou gh that standardized testing and language proficiency is not proper in monitoring the progress of the student. It is recommended that schools should use alternative assessment format in recording the advancement in their learning. Reference List Chappuis, J. (2005). Helping Students Understand Assessment. Educational  Leadership, 63(3), 39–43. Freeman, R., Lewis, R. (2002). Planning and Implementing Assessment.  London: Routledge. Stiggins, R. (2007). Assessment Through the Student’s Eyes. Educational  Leadership, 64(8), 22–26. Stiggins, R., Chappuis, J. (2005). Using Student-Involved Classroom Assessment to Close Achievement Gaps. Theory Into Practice, 44(1), 11–18.Advertising Looking for essay on languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This essay on Assessments for English Language Learners was written and submitted by user Titania to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Free Essays on Korn

Out of the small town of Bakersfield, California, in the early nineties, came a sound. A faint whisper at first, it grew in force and intensity with time, unhindered by the yapping mouths of politicians and parents alike. It rang in their ears. It plagued their minds. It genuinely terrified them. The voice, talking in low-tuned rhythmic tones, spoke for a generation that would have no more of modern America and its leaders. A generation fed-up with lies, violence and greed from their own society. It grew and grew as more and more people realized the veracity of its claims, and adhered to its cause. The politicians grew fearful, and attempted to end its spread by censoring and denouncing. Little did they know that, six years later, that small whisper would grow into a deafening scream, a disturbingly present reminder of its own existence, and of its legions of followers. KoRn have revolutionized heavy music as we know it, or used to know it, by injecting several different musical influences into traditional rock, from hip-hop and rap, to 70's funk music. This strange blend gives KoRn a sound of its own. The different styles involved do, theoretically, contradict themselves, but bound together by KoRn's musical savoir-faire, give the songs such atmosphere that the show-goers cannot simply sit in their seats and say "Hmmm...nice." They feel the urge to jump in the mosh pit and enjoy the music at its core, letting all of their energy flow with the tonal explosion that KoRn puts out for them. This is how KoRn wins fans with steady, unrelenting touring, giving the fans the full experience and thus winning them for life. This strategy has given KoRn a much longer life span than the passing fad, and it shows no sign of stopping. Debuting strongly with their first, self-titled album, KoRn introduced itself bluntly to the world, featuring lightning-fast drum arrangements by David, frightening, Halloween-like guitar riffs by guitarists Munky and... Free Essays on Korn Free Essays on Korn Out of the small town of Bakersfield, California, in the early nineties, came a sound. A faint whisper at first, it grew in force and intensity with time, unhindered by the yapping mouths of politicians and parents alike. It rang in their ears. It plagued their minds. It genuinely terrified them. The voice, talking in low-tuned rhythmic tones, spoke for a generation that would have no more of modern America and its leaders. A generation fed-up with lies, violence and greed from their own society. It grew and grew as more and more people realized the veracity of its claims, and adhered to its cause. The politicians grew fearful, and attempted to end its spread by censoring and denouncing. Little did they know that, six years later, that small whisper would grow into a deafening scream, a disturbingly present reminder of its own existence, and of its legions of followers. KoRn have revolutionized heavy music as we know it, or used to know it, by injecting several different musical influences into traditional rock, from hip-hop and rap, to 70's funk music. This strange blend gives KoRn a sound of its own. The different styles involved do, theoretically, contradict themselves, but bound together by KoRn's musical savoir-faire, give the songs such atmosphere that the show-goers cannot simply sit in their seats and say "Hmmm...nice." They feel the urge to jump in the mosh pit and enjoy the music at its core, letting all of their energy flow with the tonal explosion that KoRn puts out for them. This is how KoRn wins fans with steady, unrelenting touring, giving the fans the full experience and thus winning them for life. This strategy has given KoRn a much longer life span than the passing fad, and it shows no sign of stopping. Debuting strongly with their first, self-titled album, KoRn introduced itself bluntly to the world, featuring lightning-fast drum arrangements by David, frightening, Halloween-like guitar riffs by guitarists Munky and...

Animal Test Should Be Stopped Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Animal Test Should Be Stopped - Essay Example   Ã‚   Animals form a pliable target for beings, but still, it is not just to take unjustified benefit of their defenselessness. It should be clear that a mouse or a monkey would go through similar throbbing that beings would do if subjected to certain hurting measures. These animals do not get food, water and, sleep. In various circumstances, they undergo cruel treatment. For example, dogs under lock and key in chambers to experiment whether a given insecticide is secure for breathing by people. On many occasions, there is no use of anesthesia at the time of testing. This is due to a callous attitude towards the safety of animals and avoids the alteration of the test results (Sherry, 1994). However, just imagine that you are in a theatre with no anesthesia or stacked in a filthy cell since a famous person wants to experiment how your body responds to that given surroundings. If individuals take the initiative of being kindhearted towards some creatures that you will realize the so mewhat pain these innocent animals have to bear during such experiments. Some countries, the likes of Netherlands New Zealand have forbidden the utilization of brilliant apes among other primates for experiments. (Thomas, 1995). Results obtained from the practice assist in checking whether a given sample of drug or cosmetic artifact would result to any reactions on people. The functioning mechanisms of human beings are different from those of animals. The extensive use of Aspirin is for the cure of pain, fever, inflammation, etc. in people. Conversely, this exact drug proves to be poisonous for rats.    Most conducted experiments are on the natural world, which cannot be a dependable basis for foretelling results on people. This shows that, the rats or mice are not the right forms to hypothesize reactions in people, where as only monkeys and chimpanzees are because their close relation to humans. Many of us are not aware that drug-manufacturing companies are not answerable for side effects or illnesses ensuing from their vaccines or medicines; however, many lately tested drugs they proudly trade; do not yield-required results. The reactions of drugs like clioquinol and thalidomide are an indication to the allegations that drugs tested cannot form a basis of considerations on animals as well as secure for human consumption (Types of Animal Testing, 2010).