how to assess when teaching about "at school" and reading a story about school to learners" focusing on listening and speaking

When teaching about "at school" and reading a story about school to learners while focusing on listening and speaking, there are several ways to assess their understanding and facilitate their language skills development. Here are some assessment strategies and techniques you can use:

1. Pre-reading activities: Before reading the story, conduct pre-reading activities to activate prior knowledge and assess the learners' background understanding. For example, engage in a class discussion about school and ask questions about their own experiences, routines, and expectations.

2. Predictions: Encourage learners to make predictions about the story based on the title, illustrations, or any other available information. Assess their speaking skills by asking them to explain and justify their predictions.

3. Listening comprehension: Read the story aloud, and during the read-aloud, pause at significant points to assess learners' listening comprehension. Ask questions about the story, characters, and events to check if they are following along and understanding the meaning.

4. Vocabulary and expressions: During or after the story, focus on specific vocabulary words and expressions related to school. Assess the learners' understanding by asking them to define or use the words in sentences orally. You can also play vocabulary games or provide matching exercises.

5. Retelling and summarizing: After reading the story, ask learners to retell or summarize it in their own words. This will assess their listening and speaking skills and their ability to comprehend and recall information from the story.

6. Discussion and opinion sharing: Engage learners in a group or class discussion about the story. Assess their speaking skills by evaluating how well they express their opinions, ideas, and thoughts about the events, characters, or themes of the story.

7. Role-plays and dialogues: Provide opportunities for learners to engage in role-plays or dialogues related to the story. This will assess their ability to apply newly acquired language skills in real-life scenarios, focusing on speaking and listening.

8. Collaborative projects: Assign collaborative projects or tasks related to the story, such as creating a class newspaper, acting out a scene, or writing a different ending. Observe learners' oral interactions, negotiations, and contributions to assess their speaking and listening skills.

Remember to provide constructive feedback and encourage learners to reflect on their progress. Adapt your assessment techniques and tasks based on the proficiency level and age of your learners.

Assessing students' listening and speaking skills while teaching about "at school" and reading a story about school can be done through the following steps:

Step 1: Set learning objectives
Clearly define the objectives you want to assess at the end of the lesson, such as understanding vocabulary related to school, improving listening comprehension, or practicing oral communication.

Step 2: Pre-teach vocabulary
Introduce new vocabulary words related to school that students will encounter in the story. Use flashcards, pictures, or gestures to aid comprehension and help students remember the words. You could also include a small activity to practice using the vocabulary in context.

Step 3: Introduce the story
Provide context for the story by telling students briefly what it is about, building their interest and anticipation. Share the title, author, and ask students to make predictions about the content of the story.

Step 4: Pre-listening activities
Engage students in pre-listening activities to activate their prior knowledge and prepare them for listening. These activities could include discussing personal experiences related to school, brainstorming vocabulary associated with school life, or creating questions they would like to find the answers to while listening.

Step 5: Listening to the story
Read the story aloud to the students or play an audio recording. Encourage students to listen carefully and take notes if necessary. After reading, provide time for students to ask clarifying questions or discuss any challenging parts of the story in pairs or small groups.

Step 6: Post-listening activities
Engage students in tasks that involve speaking and reinforce the content of the story. Possible activities could include role-playing scenes from the story, discussing the characters or events, or retelling the story in their own words. These activities will provide opportunities for students to practice their speaking skills and demonstrate their understanding of the story.

Step 7: Assessment
To assess students' listening and speaking skills, you can use various methods. Observing their engagement during pre-listening and post-listening activities, checking their comprehension through questions or a comprehension quiz, or conducting individual or group presentations where students discuss the story and share their opinions can all be effective assessment strategies.

Step 8: Provide feedback
After assessing students' performance, provide constructive feedback that highlights their strengths and areas for improvement. Give specific examples and suggestions for further practice and improvement.

By following these steps, you can effectively assess students' listening and speaking skills while teaching about "at school" and reading a story about school. Remember to create a supportive and encouraging learning environment that motivates students to actively engage in the lesson.