Assessment tools

~ are the means by which language performance is measured. They may take several forms such as: • Tests: administered in class, during a lesson, or at the end of a fixed time (half a term, a term, a year etc.) or after a unit of work. These may be internally and/or externally set and marked, and mostly sample performance orally and/or in writing. • Examinations: these often take the form of a series of tests, frequently have official status, are administered formally and are externally recognised. • Coursework/Diaries/Logbooks: these types of assessment take the form of work completed by the learner over a period of time. They may be used formatively to guide learners as an on-going process, or summatively as a final account of what has been explored / learnt / achieved. • Certificates: these may say what level/ grade has been obtained and often describe the successful performance which has led to the award of the certificate.

Attention span

How long a learner is able to concentrate at any one time.

Attitudes

Learners possess sets of beliefs about language learning, target culture, culture, teacher, learning tasks, etc. These beliefs are referred to as attitudes. They influence learning in a number of ways.