Activity 1

Advantages of using self-assessment in classroom

ü  It can provide us with information about students’ expectations and needs.

ü  Also self- assessment can tell us what Students’ problems are in the learning process of the new language and their reactions to the material that is used in class.

ü  Besides that it can tell us what they think about their progress, what is their opinion about our class strategies, and what do they think about the course in general.

ü  Self-assessment can give us direct information about how Ss’ react when they answer our assessments and also self-assessment can give us information about their weak and strong areas.

ü  One of the most important benefits of all is that self-assessment is related to its impact on learning. We should remember that in the in the learning-base model both the teacher’s assessment and the Ss’ self assessment have direct effect in the learning process.

Disadvantages of using self-assessment in classroom

·         Self-assessment can take us a lot of time, which is very important in class.

·         Self-assessment implies knowledge about language and learning which most secondary learners do not have.

·         It can work if there is a training of learners which can be difficult for some teacher or once again the lack of time.

·         Many teachers doubt about the maturity of the Ss’ when they are asked to give themselves a mark with a higher score or lower depending on their expectations, so it could make self-assessment an unreliable influence on assessment.

·         The most important disadvantage is that self-assessment can not work in a context where marks have an intrinsic value and there is a competition between Ss’ for them. In fact most self-assessments should have nothing to do with marks.

Alfonso L.

There are many possibilities for the implementation of self-assessment in language learning. I think that self assessment at the beginning of a course can really help the teacher to get to know his/her students’ problem areas and their overall opinion about language learning/their language experience. Also learner diaries and self assessment of learning styles can really show the teacher and the students where the learning process can be improved.

 Advantages of using self-assessment in the classroom

Students are taken seriously because they get the opportunity to tell the teacher how they feel about their progress, whether their expectations get fulfilled and their needs covered.

Students are more active because they have to be aware (think) of what they learned and what they did not learn in order to be able to assess themselves, improve/correct themselves, and learn more. Self assessment is an integral part of learning.

Students can explain the problems they have encountered and express how they felt about materials/methods that were used and how they liked the course in general.

Disdvantages of using self-assessment in classroom

It can take up a lot of time and students need to have knowledge about language and learning in order to be able to assess themselves correctly; therefore, self assessment can only work if it is accompanied by learner training.

Many teachers have their doubts about the maturity of students when they are asked to give themselves a mark. Self assessment does not work when there is a competition between students because progress should be seen individually and students should not compare with other students while assessing themselves.

Melanie L.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-assessment

Advantages:

Ø      Diagnosing problems and measuring the progress of the students.

Ø      Give feedback to the teacher about his method of teaching.

Ø      Students are involved in the process of assessment.

Ø      If students are encouraged to assess their own work, they are more likely to improve.

Disadvantages:

Ø      It can take up a lot of time.

Ø      Self-assessment implies knowledge about language and learning which most secondary learners do not have.

Ø      Many teachers may have their doubts about the maturity of students when they are asked to give themselves a mark, which will be taken into account in their overall assessment.

Ø      Self-assessment cannot work in a context where marks have an intrinsic value in themselves and there is competition between students.

 Sarahi A.