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A R R A N G E D BY:E N E N G S YA M S I A HK I N K I N S U S A N S I

N U R V I A PA H L AWA N I TA

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L A N G U A G E A S S E S S M E N T

A LT E R N AT I V E A SS E SS M E N T S : P O RT F O L I O S , J O U R N A L S ,

I N T E R V I E W S

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I N T R O D U C T I O NT O A LT E R N AT I V E

A SS E SS M E N T S

•Alternative assessments are assessments out of conventional assessment that give more choices, consideration and freedom for teachers in judging their students profi ciency.

•Students’ profi ciency are assessed more fl exibly, dynamical ly, and real ist ical ly because students perform what teachers ask directly, and assessed at that moment therefore it is more eff ective.

• It works well in learner-centered classrooms as activit ies with language that focus on communication for meaningful purposes.

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K I N D S O F A LT E R N AT I V E A SS E SS M E N T S

• The lists of alternative assessments including journals, logs, videotapes and audiotapes, checklists, self-valuation, teacher observations, checklists, portfolios, conferences, diaries, self-assessment and peer-assessment.

• This is like an active exam; based on performance test. Based on performance means it depends on how students demonstrate their ability, perform a meaningful task and receive feedback by a qualified person.

• The structure and scoring are also different from traditional test where students can evaluate themselves and their peers using reflective method on both linguistic development and learning processes.

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P R O A N D C O N T R A

•Alternative assessments are not quite universally acceptable for its reliability and validity of the results.

•Some scholars argue that these assessments are too general and not fulfill the standard and criteria established by governing body or educational experts.

•Others issues relate to alternative assessments developed such as the design decisions, logistics, and interpretation.

•Pro opinion states that alternative assessment are needed to support traditional standardized assessments since they are not complete and not enough to judge students language proficiency.

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P O RT F O L I O S

•A collection of students school work collected over a specific period of the school year that shows student growth and development.

•Useful for special needs child who can not accomplish difficult tasks.

•A working portfolio for examples: homework assignments, journal entries, in-class writing assignments, professional articles.

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T H E A D VA N TA G E S O F P O RT F O L I O S

•Like photographers collect their work time to time, teachers encourage students to collect theirs as compile of efforts, skills, achievements and their contribution in class activities.

Portfol io have some advantages such as:1. Strengthening students’ learning2. Enhancing the teacher’s role3. Improving testing process

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JOURNALS

“ As a literary form, the journal falls roughly between the diary and the log: it consists of regular, though not necessarily daily, entries by which the writer focuses and reflects upon a given theme, or a series of events and experiences.” Hedlund et al. (1989, p. 108)

• Journals are writing practices which focus on the expression of a student's opinions, viewpoints, experiences, and creative imaginings.

• The topics of journals would be determined by the teacher. For example teacher asks to write about students’ favorite subject at school. Or what do you want to be when you grow up? Choose and describe at least three jobs that you think you would enjoy and so forth.

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T H E A D VA N TA G E S O F J O U R N A L S

T h e a d v a n t a g e s o f j o u r n a l s : •Students will be actively engaged to the learning process and course materials. If students actively engage to their study, they will learn more, remember, enjoy it, and appreciate more what they have learned rather than students who passively receive what teacher has taught.

• To increase students’ interests, empower students to be more responsible to their own learning and more reflective in their study.

• Encourage students to be more speak up what is on their mind. Teacher should give build-up feedbacks on students’ writings for their the betterment.

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INTERVIEWS• Interview is a kind of conference, interaction between teacher and student but it is more specific.

•A teacher will interview students for assessment purpose so it is not about students conducting interview of other to gain information.

T h e g o a l s o f t h e i n t e r v i e w a r e f o r : • Assess the student’s oral production• Ascertain a student’s needs before designing a course or curriculum• Seek to discover a student’s learning styles and preferences• Ask a student to assess his or her own performance, and• Requests an evaluation of a course

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CONCLUSION

Alternative assessment is a type of assessment out of conventional assessment. Even though it is non-standardized assessment but it is more authentic, realistic and directly reveal the proficiency of students.

A standardized test is usually not measure deeply of students proficiency. From the combination of traditional and alternative assessment, teachers have more accurate judgment to measure students proficiency. Teacher also will gain more experience and make a betterment in educational life.

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