Unit # 8 How Do I Assess Language Larning

Assessing language learning in the classroom is something that we have to take under consideration before, during and after a unit has been taught. This is what we refer to as Diagnostic, Formative and Summative assessments.
Diagnostic Assessment: it is done at the beginning of a lesson. Here, the teacher can use quizzes, tests or collect students' work to have an idea on what area to focus the lesson on.
Formative Assessment: it is done throughout the process of a lesson. This assessment is done without marking the students on their work. The students also have the opportunity of giving feedback to their classmates and do self-assessments on their own learning.
Summative Assessment: It is a compilation of what the students have learned at the end of a unit or lesson. Students can demonstrate their learning through homework assignments, portfolios or group activities that are to be graded.
Another interesting form of assessment is the PBLA-Portfolio Based Language Assessment. The PBLA is a significant factor in language training classrooms, especially those publicly funded programs. This type of assessment is formative, and due to its nature, it is performed on an ongoing basis.
There are a number of different assessment tools that are great to use when it comes to measuring the students learning. I will do a bit of research on this and then post my findings.