Using Portfolios for Teaching EnglishUsing Portfolios for Teaching English

(Nae Dong-Yang)

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Portfolios

Collections of students’ work Selected by the students With the teacher’s guidance To represent their learning

experiences A type of personal assessment

Related to classroom activities Assessing learning processes

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Advantages of Using Portfolios

Promote the use of metacognitive strategies

Motivate and enhance learningHelp future independent learningEncourage collaborate learningShow learning process and progressPresent learning resultsHelp affective factorsOthers

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Other advantages of Using Portfolios

Document students’ writing process Provide records of activities in class Raise students’ awareness about

taking control and responsibility of their learning the writing process

Reinforce what they have learned Help students in self-reflection and self-

assessment Provide the instructor with students’ feedback

and valuable information for improvement Serve the function of evaluation

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Disadvantages of Using Portfolios

It takes a lot of time.It is too much trouble, a burden to

prepare.Some students might complete it in a

short time and cheat on some samples or fake the records.

Some learning results and methods are hard to present.

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Problems to Encounter

Time managementStudying, preparing the portfolios

Learning attitudesLaziness, procrastination, indetermination

Problems in keeping a recordInformation management

How to select or organize work

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Concluding Remarks

Most students usually have positive reactions toward using the portfolio. It offers directions and chances for

learning.The portfolios reveal students’

learning process and results

From Traditional Portfolios to From Traditional Portfolios to Web-based PortfoliosWeb-based Portfolios

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Web-based Portfolios vs. Paper Portfolios

Web-based Portfolios Easy to manage files High efficiency User-friendly Easy to revise writing and

check errors Save paper, environmental

friendly Can upload anytime Can record learning easily

and accurately Can read and respond to

each other’s writing

Paper Portfolios Have more ways to present

the contents Provide an overview Show more details Good for eyesight Trouble in saving documents

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References

Brown, J. D. (Ed.). (1998). New ways of classroom assessment. Alexandra, VA: Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.

Farr, Roger and Bruce Tone (1994). Portfolio and Performance Assessment: Helping Students Evaluate Their Progress as Readers and Writers. Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Wenden, Anita (1991). Learner strategies for learner autonomy: Planning and implementing learner training for language learners. Herfordshire, UK: Prentice-Hall International.

Yang, N. D. (2003). Integrating portfolios into learning-strategy-based instruction for EFL college students. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 41, 4, 293-317.

Yang, N. D. (2003, March). Incorporating Portfolios into the EFL Writing Classrooms. The proceedings of 2003 International Conference and Workshop on TEFL & Applied Linguistics. Compiled by Department of Applied English, Ming Chuan University (pp. 476-483). Taipei: The Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.

Yang, N. D. (2005, July). Building a Web-Based Learning Portfolio System. Paper presented at the 2005 World Congress of Applied Linguistics, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A., July 24-29, 2005.