Issues in the Assessment and Evaluation of English Language Education at the Elementary School Level : Implications for Policies in South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan
While English as a Foreign Language at Elementary Schools (EFLES) has gained popularity in many parts of the world including East Asia, we have relatively little understanding about evaluation and assessment practices at the elementary school level. The present study synthesizes the information currently available (typically only at the local level) on assessments that have been used for the evaluation of EFLES programs in three Asian countries: South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. By doing so, the study aims to identify what is known and what needs to be understood in order to advance our collective understanding of how EFLES may be more effectively implemented in East Asia. Previous research on EFLES has largely consisted of the following types of studies: (1) survey and interview studies that ask students, teachers and parents about their experiences with and/or their perceptions of the effectiveness of EFLES programs; (2) studies that use linguistic measures to compare the performance differences between those who have studied in EFLES programs and those who have not; and (3) studies evaluating students’ language attainment based on some form of criteria-based reference measures. The present paper concludes with a series of suggestions for the assessment and evaluation of EFLES programs in those countries that are the focus of this study.
목차
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION BRIEF OVERVIEW OF EFLES POLICIES REVIEWS OF STUDIES EXAMINING STUDENTS’ ATTAINMENT IN EFLES Survey and Interview Studies Comparisons Based on Linguistic Measures Examinations Based on Criterion Reference Measurements ISSUES REGARDING TEACHER-BASED ASSESSMENT CONCLUSION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THE AUTHOR REFERENCES
키워드
EFLES: English as a Foreign Language at Elementary SchoolsJMOE: Ministry of EducationCultureSportsand Technology in JapanKMOE: Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development in KoreaTMOE: Ministry of EducationRepublic of China (Taiwan)AssessmentEvaluation
The goals of Asia TEFL are to promote scholarship, disseminate information, and facilitate cross-cultural understanding among persons concerned with the teaching and learning of English in Asia. In order to accomplish this, Asia TEFL will pursue the following goals:
1. To link ELT professionals in joint research on issues and concerns regarding English teaching and learning in the Asian context.
2. To publish an academic journal, The Asia TEFL Journal, as an internationally recognized journal in the field of English language teaching.
3. To host conferences and seminars addressing important issues concerning ELT in Asia.
4. To develop proficiency guidelines and assessment methods designed for the needs of the Asian context.
5. To develop programs for Asian learners and teachers of English to build their English language proficiency and cultural understanding and provide them with the skills required to be efficient English teaching professionals.