subject proficiency assessment€¦ · subject proficiency assessment at levels 1, 2 and 3 of the...
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SSubjectubjectPProficiencyroficiencyAAssessment ssessment
At levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Malta Qualifications Framework
Dr. Mario Pace
Rationale
A large number of students are leaving school at the age of 16 with
no certification in:Ø Foreign language skills
Ø English and Malteseeven though they have studied them for a number of years.
Source: MATSEC Statistical Reports
Why are so many students quitting languages at school?
(i) The perception that learning a language can be an important prerequisite for just a few.
(ii) Students very often see very little connection between what is taught in class and real life situations, especially in view of the fact that we still have a system of assessing languages based almost entirely on writing skills.
(iii) Students who in their first years of studying a language fail to grasp the basic concepts, find it very difficult, if not impossible, to keep the pace with the other students in their year group.
The learners will acquire and develop a communicative competence which
allows for an effective and meaningful interaction in diversified social contexts. S/he will also develop skills, language and attitudes required for further study
of the language, work and leisure.
The focus of this programme is communicative competence. Emphasis is not to be made on
memorising grammatical forms and meta language (e.g. defining the various parts of
speech).
The programme is not prescriptive and does not define the moment when a particular grammar
point needs to be taught. The teacher may decide when and where a particular grammar
point will be included in the teaching programme.
Its main aim is to provide a method of learning, teaching and assessing which
applies to all languages. The programme offers a fully
comprehensive assessment of the four basic skills or abilities in a language,
namely speaking, listening, reading and writing.
The Scope:
To organize home-grown CERTIFIED PROFICIENCY exams in various subjects at Levels 1, 2 & 3 (MQF)
• We will start with the following languages:ü Italianü Frenchü Spanishü German
ü English Languageü Maltese
• Eventually we will look into other subjects, namely
üMathsüScience
üDigital literacy
The Project
The Project
At Form 3, on the basis of their performance for each subject, students will choose
between:Ø
Ø SEC Ø SPA
One track does not necessarily exclude the other
The Project§ At Form 3, students start at Level 1.
§ At the end of Form 3, students sit for SPA Level 1 exams (national level).
§ Students who obtain a pass mark in at least 2 skills, move on to Level 2.
§§ The others continue at Level 1.
§§ Continuous assessment will replace HY
Exams. Ø
Italian Level 1 UnitsUnit 1.01 – Salutare il mondo e presentarsi – Greeting the world and introducing oneselfUnit 1.02 – Una vita a colori – A Colourful lifeUnit 1.03 – La famiglia – The family Unit 1.04 – La mia casa – My homeUnit 1.05 – A scuola – At school Unit 1.06 – Cibo e bevande – Food and drinksUnit 1.07 – Fare la spesa – ShoppingUnit 1.08 – Facciamo il punto – Rewind and revise
= Yes, I can = I still have difficulties = No, I cannot
UNIT 1.02: Una vita a colori – A Colourful life
NAME: ________________________________ CLASS: ___________
At the end of this unit, I can:
Student
Teacher
identify, say and understand the days of the week ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
identify, say and understand the months of the year ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
identify, say and understand the four seasons ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
identify, say and understand the colours ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
ask, answer and understand questions about my date of birth ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
ask, answer and understand questions about my favourite colour/s ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
express my preferences using short memorised phrases ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝ ⃝
Testing Each level consists of four tests that assess language competence in the four skills: listening, reading, writing and speaking. Each of the 4 skills will have a total score of 25.
Skill Pass mark Duration (minutes)
Description of tasks
Listening 15/25 30 3 tasks – may include pictures and texts
Speaking 15/25 5 - 7 3 tasks – may include short self presentation, describe picture, free conversation
Reading 15/25 30 2 tasks – may include 1 text and 1 picture
Writing 15/25 30 2 tasks – for a total of about 50 words
The EXAMFor each of the 4 skills:
The exam will be out of 20 marks + 5 marks (continuous assessment)
•Ratio: Exam: 80 % Continuous A. : 20%
Marks obtained in a particular skill will not compensate for other skills.
The EXAM
• There will be one national examination session per year at the end of the scholastic year.
• Students will be required to register for SPA exams (subjects and levels) at their respective schools.
• A National Examination Board for each subject will be set up.
• The exams will consist of four tests verifying the basic language skills:
listening, reading, writing, speaking.
• A separate mark will be given for each of the 4 skills and a certificate attesting the skills obtained will be issued.
EXAM STRUCTURE
The certificate will specify the skills acquired by a student in a particular
level and the marks obtained for each skill.
CERTIFICATION
The Proficiency Certificate gives a description of what individuals can do with language in terms of speaking,
writing, listening, and reading in real-world situations in a spontaneous and
non-rehearsed context.
CERTIFICATION
•
• Students attending Forms 3, 4 and/or Form 5 at Secondary Level at State, Church
or Independent Schools.•
•At Levels 1 and 2, there will be no examination fees.
••At Level 3, a fee similar to that paid for SEC
subjects will apply.
Intended Recipients
• The home-grown curricular programmes required will be worked within the LOF working groups.
• The preparatory work is expected to be
ready by December 2015.
• The implementation is expected to start in September 2016
Envisaged Timeframe
SOFT LAUNCH• A soft launch – started September 2014 – with 1
subject (Italian) at
o St. Ignatius BSSo Maria Regina GSS
Its curriculum was developed in a fast track mode.
• In September 2015, all foreign languages at SPA level 1 will be introduced in these 2 schools.
• In September 2016, all languages at SPA Level 1 will be introduced in other Senior Schools.
DESIRED OUTCOMES•
• Alternative Assessment & Certification in Subject Proficiency at Levels 1, 2 & 3 of MQF.
• Reduction in the number of students with no certification in languages.
• Students will be offered an alternative route to obtaining certification in language / subject proficiency.
• The SPA certificate will give a faithful picture of the acquired language skills.
••••
••
IMPLICATIONS
• Students, in consultation with their parents and teachers, choose between SEC and SPA.
•• Teacher training re methods of assessment.•• Possibility of more teaching opportunities in
various subjects. •
