Integrating Student Portfolios in ESL Instruction By Daniela Munca ALC July 2009 Training for the ALC staff

Workshop organized for the American Language Center Moldova staff, June 2009

Workshop organized for the American Language Center Moldova staff, June 2009

An ESL (Language) Portfolio is: a selection of examples of work that provides specific evidence of a learner’s progress in learning English not a collection of everything a learner has done throughout the course, but a representational sampling of items that the learner think show what the learner has learned to do in English material related to the 4 skill areas An opportunity for students to reflect on their work and develop students' ability to critique their own progress. In an ESP course the portfolio would contain language samples or activities reflecting the particular context of the course (Business English, Hotel English, Exam Preparation)

a selection of examples of work that provides specific evidence of a learner’s progress in learning English

not a collection of everything a learner has done throughout the course, but a representational sampling of items that the learner think show what the learner has learned to do in English

material related to the 4 skill areas

An opportunity for students to reflect on their work and develop students' ability to critique their own progress.

In an ESP course

the portfolio would contain language samples or activities reflecting the particular context of the course

(Business English, Hotel English, Exam Preparation)

What should be included in a Portfolio? Audio- and videotaped recordings of readings or oral presentations Writing samples such as essays, book reports, writing assignments, etc Art work such as pictures or drawings, graphs and charts Tests and quizzes. To gain multiple perspectives on students' academic development, it is important for teachers to include more than one type of material in the portfolio.

Audio- and videotaped recordings of readings or oral presentations

Writing samples such as essays, book reports, writing assignments, etc

Art work such as pictures or drawings, graphs and charts

Tests and quizzes.

To gain multiple perspectives on students' academic development, it is important for teachers to include more than one type of material in the portfolio.

Why ESL Portfolios in ALC classes? open-ended and flexible depends on the focus of the course and level of learners any kind of material that a teacher would look at to determine a learner’s level and progress: Writing samples, tests, lists of books/stories a learner has read and completed, short summaries of their favorite videos, movies and songs, presentation, spelling tests, a completed answer sheet from

open-ended and flexible

depends on the focus of the course and level of learners

any kind of material that a teacher would look at to determine a learner’s level and progress:

Writing samples, tests, lists of books/stories a learner has read and completed, short summaries of their favorite videos, movies and songs, presentation, spelling tests, a completed answer sheet from

Student-focused assessment !!! Not time consuming , as the students put together the portfolios by themselves Student-centered assessment – they are in charge of selecting their own sample work Realistic !!!! (Final tests are not %100 accurate) Raise students’ awareness of the effort someone needs to invest in studying a language Supports students’ interests : everything they do is being saved, collected and analyzed by the end of the semester Consistent: covering not just the final score of the written test, but a collection of projects / activities demonstrating students’ progress

Not time consuming , as the students put together the portfolios by themselves

Student-centered assessment – they are in charge of selecting their own sample work

Realistic !!!! (Final tests are not %100 accurate)

Raise students’ awareness of the effort someone needs to invest in studying a language

Supports students’ interests : everything they do is being saved, collected and analyzed by the end of the semester

Consistent: covering not just the final score of the written test, but a collection of projects / activities demonstrating students’ progress

The European Language Portfolio a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language can record and reflect on their language learning and cultural experiences contains a language passport which its owner regularly updates contains a detailed language biography describing the owner's experiences in each language is designed to guide the learner in planning and assessing progress a dossier where examples of personal work can be kept to illustrate one's language competences.

a document in which those who are learning or have learned a language can record and reflect on their language learning and cultural experiences

contains a language passport which its owner regularly updates

contains a detailed language biography describing the owner's experiences in each language

is designed to guide the learner in planning and assessing progress

a dossier where examples of personal work can be kept to illustrate one's language competences.

Study Case: Business Advanced Class 8 students Advanced level Age: 17-21 Focus on general business Course length: 1 month (intensive) Portfolio to be submitted: by the end of the month (July)

8 students

Advanced level

Age: 17-21

Focus on general business

Course length: 1 month (intensive)

Portfolio to be submitted: by the end of the month (July)

Business English Portfolio Contents 1. Personal Statement – Goals and Expectations What the student expects to learn from the course How he / she is going to use this information in his / her future professional or academic life What are the areas for improvement: spoken English, written business English

1.

Personal Statement – Goals and Expectations

What the student expects to learn from the course

How he / she is going to use this information in his / her future professional or academic life

What are the areas for improvement: spoken English, written business English

2. Favorite YouTube Video Short summary of the video Reflection: why the video was interesting Relevance: is the information useful?

Short summary of the video

Reflection: why the video was interesting

Relevance: is the information useful?

3. Favorite Text / Audio Sample Title of the text / audio 2) The four W analysis: Who? What? Where? and When? 3) The A/D/I/N analysis: Agree, Disagree, Interesting!!!!, New Information (didn’t know that …) 4) Personal perspective: student’s response

Title of the

text / audio

2) The four W analysis:

Who? What?

Where? and When?

3) The A/D/I/N analysis:

Agree, Disagree, Interesting!!!!, New Information (didn’t know that …)

4) Personal perspective: student’s response

4. 5 Illustrated Business Idioms

6. BBC Financial / CNN Money Article Response

7. Language Areas Progress Assessment Which areas of English language the student improved on; Which areas the student need improvement; Most challenging language areas: Passive Voice; Reported Speech, Present Perfect, etc Learning Style: new methods and learning tips

Which areas of English language the student improved on;

Which areas the student need improvement;

Most challenging language areas: Passive Voice; Reported Speech, Present Perfect, etc

Learning Style: new methods and learning tips

8. Video Resume The EFL students are asked to create a video resume that would include: - their personal info - goals – what career they plan to pursue or which company they would like to work for one day - skills and special talents - educational and professional (if any) background See two sample here: Sample Video Interview 1 (for high school students), Sample 2 - Professional

The EFL students are asked to create a video resume that would include:

- their personal info

- goals – what career they plan to pursue or which company they would like to work for one day

- skills and special talents

- educational and professional (if any) background

See two sample here:

Sample Video Interview 1 (for high school students),

Sample 2 - Professional

Let’s Get Down to Business: Teamwork : analyze the individual portfolio samples and share your ideas with the rest of the class: from beginner to pre-intermediate level Pair-work : create a portfolio sample plan for one of the classes you teach; include the following: Contents Evaluation Materials included Resources

Teamwork : analyze the individual portfolio samples and share your ideas with the rest of the class: from beginner to pre-intermediate level

Pair-work : create a portfolio sample plan for one of the classes you teach; include the following:

Contents

Evaluation

Materials included

Resources