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PE-MC-EAE
Promoting English as Means of Communication in European Adult Education
2013 - 1 - ES - GRU06 - 73300
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST 2
(May 2015)
Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni", Arezzo - ITALY
Liceul Tehnologic de Servicii "Sfantul Apostol Andrei", Ploiesti, ROMANIA
Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanès i Dalmau, Tarragona, SPAIN
İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi, Istanbul, TURKEY
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
INDEX
1.1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................5
1.2. AGE OF THE STUDENTS....................................................................................5
1.3. YEARS OF STUDYING........................................................................................5
1.4. EXTRA CLASSES................................................................................................6
1.5. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A............6
1.6. USE OF ENGLISH – B.........................................................................................7
1.7. USE OF ENGLISH – C.........................................................................................7
1.8. USE OF ENGLISH – E.........................................................................................7
1.9. USE OF ENGLISH – F..........................................................................................8
1.10. READING – D.....................................................................................................8
1.11. LISTENING – G.................................................................................................9
1.12. WRITING – H......................................................................................................9
1.13. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:................................................................10
1.14. CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES:............................................................11
1.15. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................12
1.16. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................14
1.17. AGE..................................................................................................................14
1.18. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................15
1.19. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM..........................................16
1.20. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................16
1.21. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A .......17
1.22. USE OF ENGLISH – B.....................................................................................18
1.23. USE OF ENGLISH – C.....................................................................................18
1.24. USE OF ENGLISH – E.....................................................................................19
1.25. USE OF ENGLISH – F......................................................................................20
1.26. READING – D...................................................................................................20
1.27. LISTENING – G................................................................................................21
1.28. WRITING – H....................................................................................................22
1.29. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F.............................................23
1.30. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES............................................................25
1.31. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................27
1.32. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................29
1.33. AGE..................................................................................................................30
1.34. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................31
1.35. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................31
1.36. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A........32
1.37. READING – D...................................................................................................32
1.38. USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F........................................................................33
1.39. LISTENING – G................................................................................................33
1.40. WRITING – H....................................................................................................34
1.41. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES............................................................34
1.42. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................36
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1.43. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................37
1.44. AGE..................................................................................................................37
1.45. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................37
1.46. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM..........................................38
1.47. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................38
1.48. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A........38
1.49. USE OF ENGLISH – B.....................................................................................39
1.50. USE OF ENGLISH – C.....................................................................................40
1.51. USE OF ENGLISH – E.....................................................................................40
1.52. USE OF ENGLISH – F......................................................................................41
1.53. READING – D...................................................................................................41
1.54. LISTENING – G................................................................................................42
1.55. WRITING – H....................................................................................................42
1.56. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:................................................................43
1.57. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES:...........................................................43
1.58. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:.............................................................................45
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FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
INTRODUCTION
The aim of the initial test1
was to collect data and information about the students’ level of English
in adult education in Europe in order to represent the starting point in the next level of our project:
designing the teaching materials for adult classes2
. At the end of the project we submitted the same
test for a second time in order to compare results and be able to assess the impact of the project in
our institutions.
We have been written down some conclusions after collecting, processing, examining and
comparing the data and information on the results achieved by their students.
1
You can read the test of the Test in the FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST Annex section.
http://pemceae.blogspot.com.tr/p/initial-test.html.
2
All the material is published on the website project at the http://pemceae.blogspot.com.tr
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1. FINAL REPORT - AREZZO, ITALY
1.1. INTRODUCTION
This final report shows the results achieved by the 27 adult students tested in May 2015.
Students were given the same test they were asked to do at the beginning of the project so that
results can be compared.
1.2. AGE OF THE STUDENTS
AGE
59%19%
22%
G1 (18-24 years) =16 students
G2 (25-34 years) = 5 students
G3 (35+ years) = 6 students
As the pie chart shows, the age of the students involved in adult education is mainly between
18-24 years. During the last few years more and more young students are attending courses in
adult education.
1.3. YEARS OF STUDYING
YEARS OF STUDYING
7%
15%
78%
Y3 (0-2 years) = 2 student
Y6 (3-6 years) = 4 students
Y7 (7+ years) = 21 students
Thanks to the introduction of the English language as a compulsory school subject in all primary
schools in 2004, the number of years for studying English in State schools increased from 0-5 to
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10-13 and young adult students have studied English a bigger number of years and have a higher
level of English than older adult students who have studied English fewer years and interrupted
their studies long time ago.
1.4. EXTRA CLASSES
EXTRA CLASSES
11%
89%
Yes = 3 students
No = 24 students
In Italy there are only private courses of English for adults organized by language schools, but
they are expensive and not everyone can afford them, this explains the number of 24 adults out of
27 who have never attended extra classes of English.
1.5. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A
READING - A
74%
22%
4%
4-5 points = 20 students
2-3 points = 6 students
0-1 points = 1 students
The results show that the majority of students (74%) can understand a written text and answer
questions properly. Only one student got 0-1 points.
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1.6. USE OF ENGLISH – B
USE OFENGLISH – B
11%
89%
8 points = 24 students
6 points = 3 students
0-2 points = 0 students
Matching questions with the correct answers proved to be a very easy task for 24 adult students.
1.7. USE OF ENGLISH – C
USE OFENGLISH – C
100%
5 points = 27 students
0-3 points = 0 students
Arranging the lines in the correct order to make a dialogue was an easy task for the students.
The 27 students had no mistakes no matter their age, which showed that the dialogue was not
difficult.
1.8. USE OF ENGLISH – E
USE OFENGLISH – E
81%
19%
5 points = 22 students
1-3 points = 5 students
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Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task
which 22 students did correctly (they were 17 out of 24).
Although the task was easy, 5 students (they were 7 out of 24) failed to match the imperatives
with the correct contexts.
1.9. USE OF ENGLISH – F
USE OFENGLISH – F
4%
33%
63%
5 points = 17 students
4 points = 1 students
0-3 points = 9 students
In this task students had to understand the meaning of some sentences and of some polite
expressions and to match them in order to create more polite sentences. The task was completed
correctly by 17 students (they were 11) while 9 had difficulties (they were 9), getting less than 3
points.
1.10. READING – D
READING- D
89%
11%
6-8 points = 24 students
3-5 points = 3 students
0-2 points = 0 students
Students are usually well trained in reading skills which imply not only a comprehension of the
text but also using grammar structures properly.
24 students answered questions correctly (they were 14) or with small mistakes.
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Only 3 students didn’t complete the task properly (they were 7) proving that they neither
understood the text nor answered the questions accordingly.
1.11. LISTENING – G
LISTENING- G
67%
26%
7%
4 points = 18 students
2-3 points = 7 students
0-1 points = 2 students
This exercise consisted of an audio text at B1 level which students had to listen to twice and
then they had to answer 4 questions based on the text in order to prove that they understood the
oral message.
18 students had no mistake (it was only 1) and 7 students managed to write 2-3 correct answers
(they were 5).
Only 2 students got the minimum number of points proving that they have no listening skills at
B1 level. There were 18 students who got the minimum number of points in the same test in
November 2013.
The listening skills seem to have greatly improved compared to the results got two years ago.
1.12. WRITING – H
WRITING- H
37%
52%
11%
8-10 points = 10 students
3-7 points = 14 students
0-2 points = 3 students
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10 students out of 27 got 8 - 10 points at this exercise (they were 8) which means that they have
developed writing skills in English at B1 level.
3 students didn’t write anything so they got 0 points.
14 students got an average of 5 points at this exercise, which means that they managed to
express their basic ideas in a poor way and with grammar mistakes. So, writing skills seem to have
improved compared to the previous results.
1.13. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:
Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average
Maximum
results
24 students
89%
27 students
100%
22 students
81%
17 students
63%
23 students
83%
Minimum
results
0 students 0 students
5 students
29%
9 students
54%
4 students
21%
CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH
24
27
22
17
23
0 0
5
9
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average
Exercise
Studentsnumber
Maximum results
Minimum results
The biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercises C and B (100% and
89%).
The biggest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise F (54%) and this means
that adult students are not familiar with using modals and specific expressions of politeness.
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The smallest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise B where no students got
the minimum and this leads to the conclusion that students have a good understanding of written
messages and are generally familiar with this type of exercise.
1.14. CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES:
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A
Use of
English
B, C, E, F
Maximum
results
10
students
37%
18 students
67%
24 students
89%
20 students
74%
23 students
83%
Minimum
results
3 students
11%
2 students
7%
0 students
1 students
4%
4 students
21%
CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES
10
18
24
20
23
3
2
0
1
4
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English
B, C, E, F
Studentsnumber
Maximum results
Minimum results
- Writing is the part of the test where only 11% of the students got the minimum results (it was
46% in November 2013) and 37% of the students got the maximum results.
- Listening is the part where only 7% of students got minimum results (they were 75%) and 67%
got maximum results. This means that listening skills have greatly improved in adult education
compared to the results got in November 2013.
- Reading is the part where the majority of students, 89%, got maximum results (it was 58%) and
no one of them got the minimum results. This type of exercise in which students have to answer
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questions based on a written text is very common to all students because it is widely used during
the English classes.
- Simple Reading A is the part in which 20 students (74%) got maximum results and only one
got minimum results.
- Use of English is the part in which 23 students out of 27 (83%) got the maximum results and
only 4 (21%) got the minimum results because teachers use these types of exercises more often
with their students compared to other types of exercises.
1.15. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
As already stated in the previous report on the initial test, the main objective of young and adult
students participating in this research and attending evening classes at state secondary school is
to get a diploma which will allow them to find a job or to improve their current working position.
The students who decide to join evening classes are always highly motivated because coming
back to school is only their own choice. They all have different life experiences and backgrounds
but they realize how important it is being educated and getting new skills such as learning English
as a foreign language.
Since our school is a technical business school and the two courses for adults are Accounting
and Social Services, students in the fourth and fifth classes study the micro-language that is
business English and English for social services.
Students who have taken part in this research proved that studying English for 12 years in
school doesn’t necessary mean that at the final state exam all students have a higher level of
English. On the other hand, they also proved that with English taught only a few years (as it used
to be until some years ago) it’s impossible to reach the highest level some students can reach after
studying 12 years. The conclusion is that introducing English as a compulsory subject in every year
of primary and Secondary school curricula was a very good choice because it gives students the
opportunity to develop their English skills and to reach the level of intermediate English speakers.
Younger adult students generally develop a higher level of English while older adults who
interrupted their studies 15-20 years ago and studied English only for few years have difficulties in
learning a foreign language.
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- The most developed students’ skills are at use of English and reading (the maximum results at
these exercises reach 89% and 83% of the students) due to the fact that in general teachers use
mostly this type of exercises during the English classes.
- The writing skills have slightly improved, compared to the results got in November 2013, but
they confirm to be the most difficult skills in a foreign language due to the ability and knowledge
involved. Young adults are generally better at writing than older adults because they have studied
English longer at school.
- The listening skills of students seem to have greatly improved compared to the results got in
November 2013, where 18 students out of 24 got minimum results. In May 2015, 18 students out of
27 got maximum results and only 2 got minimum results.
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FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - PLOIESTI, ROMANIA
1.16. INTRODUCTION
The test has been carried out in May 2015 and there were 20 adult students tested from
different groups from our school as follows: 9 were from General Nursing, 4 from Laboratory
Technician, 6 from Nutritionist Assistant and 1 from Tourist Guide. The 20 students tested were
involved in the Grundtvig project activities to different extent, 5 of them taking part in 2 project
meetings as well.
The test carried out was the same test adult students from our institution sat in 2013, at the
beginning of the project and it doesn’t focus mainly on Grammar exercises, but rather on the 4
skills (Reading comprehension activities, Use of English multiple choice questions, Listening tasks
and Writing exercises). The reason for testing students with the same initial test, which was used 2
years ago at the beginning of the Grundtvig project, was that I wanted to measure the initial results
obtained by students in 2013 with the results got in 2015 at the end of the project. My purpose was
to identify exactly the things which have improved in the 2 years of project, to what extent students’
skills have developed and what aspects of the English language are still to be improved in the
future.
It’s worth mentioning that our students attend their classes to get a diploma in their specialism
which interests them and the study of English is only a part of the compulsory curriculum for 1 or 2
semesters. They don’t attend classes with the purpose of getting a diploma in English or with the
purpose only of improving their English skills.
1.17. AGE
- G1 (18-24 years) = 10 students – 50 %
- G2 (25-34 years) = 4 students – 20 %
- G3 (35+ years) = 6 students – 30 %
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The age of the students shows the percentages of the students involved in adult education: the
biggest number represents adults who continue their studies at the post-secondary level right after
the high-school graduation and before getting married or having children – 50%; the smallest
number represents adults who attend school in the period of time when they usually start up their
family and have children – 20%; a bigger percentage than the second one represents the adults
who are 35 years or more, already have family and children and decide to continue their studies for
their career or a new job – 30%.
They are in this school because they want to graduate a specialism and get a diploma which
may help them in preserving their current job or in finding a better job in the future.
1.18. YEARS OF STUDYING
- Y3 (0-3 years) = 2 students – 10%
- Y6 (3-6 years) = 8 students – 40%
- Y7 (7+ years) = 10 students – 50%
Due to the changes in the curriculum that happened in the past 20 years, the number of years
for studying English in primary and secondary school increased from 0-3 to 12-13, therefore the
age for starting studying this language has decreased and nowadays children are involved in this
activity starting kindergarten. This explains the big percentages of students who have studied
English for 3 – 7+ years in school.
That is why, older adult students have studied English fewer years and younger ones studied
English longer, which leads to the conclusion that younger adult students have a higher level of
English skills than the older ones.
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1.19. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Every specialism in my post-secondary school has English as a part of the curriculum, therefore
students have this subject no matter what they study for (general nurse, lab assistant, nutritionist,
tourist guide, stylist or event organizer). Nevertheless, English is not a main subject there because
on the whole it is studied only 60–120 hours divided in 1 or 2 semesters (out of 3–6 semesters).
There are not courses students can attend just for studying English, but courses students attend
to get a diploma in one of the specialism areas from above, the foreign language is only part of the
general curriculum and its aim is mostly to familiarize students with vocabulary and specific terms
from the domains they are preparing for and to help them improve their communication skills in a
foreign language.
1.20. EXTRA CLASSES
- yes = 1 student – 5%
- no = 19 students – 95%
The student who has attended private
classes of English is younger than 24
years and she understands how
important a foreign language is for her
career as a nurse in a hospital from the UK.
In Romania, except the short courses organized by the local community for the unemployed
citizens (which are part of European POSDRU projects other institutions from the local community
have been awarded with and which are regarded as not very well targeted to high results in
improving students’ English skills after attending them because adults don’t usually get visible
results), there are only private courses of English for adults organized by different language
schools, but they are expensive and not everyone can afford them. This explains the percentage of
95% adults who have never attended extra classes of English.
Adults know that English is a language which can be very expensive if it is not learned at the
right time while being students in primary and secondary school.
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1.21. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A
- 4-5 points = 15 students – 75%
- 2-4 points = 5 students – 25%
- 0-2 points = 0 students – 0%
13 out of 15 students got the maximum 5 points. They are younger than 27 years old, studied
English for more than 7 years and are interested in developing their English skills because their
intention is to find a job abroad especially as nurses and English is mandatory.
Their good results could be explained not only by the number of years they’ve studied English in
school, but also by their involvement in the Grundtvig project activities. Five of them attended the
project meetings in Arezzo and Istanbul, and the others were involved in a way or another in the
activities organized locally when our school hosted the project meeting in September 2014 (they
took part directly in the project activities, hosted foreign students and had the chance to
communicate with them in English developing their skills).
The students who got 2-4 points are 27-35 years old, and although they have studied English for
some years in school, their skills are not quite well developed. Moreover, 1 of them didn’t take part
in any project activity, but the rest of 4 have taken part in the project activities organized when our
school hosted the project meeting.
Students didn’t have any difficulties anymore in understanding the written questions or in
answering the questions with given information according to the task (as it happened in the initial
test when they found it difficult to answer the questions as if they had a different identity). This
means that they have developed the comprehension skills related to the tasks they have.
Using Past Simple was still a challenge for some students because they knew in general what
was expected from them to answer, but they didn’t express that information correctly in the correct
past simple form (either they answered shortly in one-word sentence, or they made mistakes in
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using the past forms of the verb “to be” or in using the other verbs in the Past Simple).
Nevertheless, the majority of the students improved their results in comparison with the results they
got at the initial test 2 years ago.
1.22. USE OF ENGLISH – B
- maximum 8 points = 16 students – 80 %
- 6 points = 4 students – 20 %
- 0-2 points = 0 students – 0 %
In comparison with the results obtained at the initial test in 2013 when matching questions with
the correct answers proved to be very hard for 2 students under the age of 24, (unable to reach A2
level at least, although they had studied many years of English in school), after 2 years of English
and project activities, in 2015, no student took minimum points at this exercises and moreover, only
4 had 2 mistakes, the rest of 16 getting the maximum number of points. The improvement of their
skills is obvious and it’s worth mentioning that they have also attended the Grundtvig project
activities with the partner teachers and students exercising their English.
1.23. USE OF ENGLISH – C
- 5 points = 16 students – 80%
- 3-4 points = 4 students – 20%
- 0-2 points = 0 students – 0%
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2 years ago arranging the lines in the correct order to make a dialogue was a difficult task for 8
students (7 of them younger than 24 years and having studied English for more years than the
older ones). In comparison, now out of 20 no student had any difficulty in solving this task and only
4 students had 1-2 small mistakes, the majority of 80% of students sitting the test being able easily
to get the maximum number of points.
1.24. USE OF ENGLISH – E
- 5 points = 17 students – 85%
- 4 points = 3 students – 15%
- 1-3 points = 0 students – 0%
Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task
which about 35% students did incorrectly in 2013 although they were younger than 24 years and
had studied this foreign language more years than the old ones in school without reaching at least
A2 level of English.
Now, after 2 years of project and students attending the activities with the partner teachers and
students, their results improved to the point that only 3 students had 1 mistake and the rest of 85%
of students solved the task without any mistake, which means that their English skills have
improved being able now to understand the written sentences and the imperatives.
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1.25. USE OF ENGLISH – F
- 5 points = 13 students – 65%
- 4 points = 7 students – 35%
- 0-3 points = 0 students – 0%
In 2013 rewriting the phrases in a more polite way using the given expressions was a task where
15 students had difficulties (out of which 13 younger than 24 years meaning that many years of
studying English hadn’t helped them to increase their level of English).
In 2015 the results have improved a lot, and the percentages prove this: no students got
minimum results and 35% of students had only one mistake, which means that the rest of 65% got
the maximum number of points. It was a major improvement regarding the students who managed
to upgrade their level of English to such an extent that they had no minimum results, but only 7
medium ones.
1.26. READING – D
- 6-8 points = 17 students – 85%
- 4-5 points = 2 students (5 points) – 10%
- 0-3 points = 1 student (3 points) – 5%
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The text was at B1 level and it had a specific vocabulary and basic grammar structures at
different tenses. Answering the questions supposed reading comprehension of the text and of the
questions as well. Moreover, the answers implied not only complete sentences with certain
structure and correct tenses (grammar structures) from the questions, but also choosing from the
text the right parts.
In 2013, 14 students didn’t manage to answer correctly or with small mistakes at the questions
based on the given text related to earthquakes prediction proving that their reading comprehension
was at a very low level and that they didn’t have the necessary communication skills to answer
those questions. Although they were younger than 24 years and had studied English for a longer
period of time, their linguistic skills hadn’t been developed enough to reach B1 level. Another 7
students answered only some of the questions, proving that their level was a bit higher, but not
enough to get the maximum number of points.
In 2015, only 1 student didn’t complete the task satisfactory proving that he neither understood
the text entirely nor answered the questions accordingly, although he got 3 points proving that his
comprehension is not quite zero. Another 2 students got 5 points out of 8 and the comparison of
the results obtained in both years shows clearly that the minimum results decreased considerably
which means that in the past 2 years the students improved their level of English getting close to a
satisfactory B1 level. This improvement happened due to the project activities students were
involved in too.
1.27. LISTENING – G
- 3-4 points = 15 students – 75%
- 2 points = 4 students – 20%
- 0-2 points = 1student – 5%
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This exercise consisted of an audio text at B1 level which students had to listen twice and then
they had to answer 4 questions based on the text in order to prove that they understood the oral
message. The last question was the most difficult for students because they had to enumerate
some details they heard in the text.
In 2013, 37% of the students managed to write 3-4 correct answers and 7 of them had no
mistake. On the other hand, 21% of students got the minimum number of points proving that they
have no listening skills at B1 level. The results showed that listening is a skill which hasn’t been
developed enough during the school years no matter if students had English as a subject for a
longer or a shorter number of years. This can be explained by the fact that teachers don’t use
listening exercises, audio texts or videos during the English lessons due to the lack of logistics in
the first place.
In 2015 the percentages show a great improvement in students’ listening skills. 75% got the
maximum results, 20% got 2 points and only 5% got the minimum results. The decrease of the
number of students who got minimum points (from 21% in 2013 to 5% in 2015) along with the
increase of the number of students who got the maximum results (from 37% in 2013 to 75% in
2015) show great improvement of the students’ listening skills and this is due to their participation
in the project activities as well, especially their active interaction with the partner teachers and
students during the project meeting organized in our institution.
1.28. WRITING – H
- 8-10 points = 10 students – 50%
- 3-7 points = 8 students – 40%
- 0-2 points = 2 students – 10%
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In 2013, 18% of the students got maximum points at this exercise and considering their age, it’s
clear that mostly young students have developed writing skills in English at B1 level. This could be
explained by the fact that they studied longer and more recently than the other adult students. A
big percentage of 46% of students got very low marks at this exercise and out of them 35% didn’t
write anything, so they got 0 points. This means that they had no writing skills at all and expressing
themselves in a foreign language was beyond their achieved abilities. 36% got an average of 5
points at this exercise, which means that they managed to express their basic ideas in a poor way
and with mistakes concerning the tenses and the main grammar aspects of the language. There
were also mistakes at the level of the text structure concerning the construction of an email and the
coverage of all the aspects from the task.
In 2015, the percentage of students who got maximum number of points improved from 18% to
50% and the same happened with the percentage representing the students with a medium
number of points (from 36% in 2013 to 40% in 2015). Another positive aspect is that the
percentage of the students who got minimum results decreased substantially from 46% in 2013 to
10% in 2015. All these percentages show clearly that students’ writing abilities improved in the past
2 years and this is a clear effect of students’ participation in the project activities. It can be also
explained by the fact that students exchanged emails and communicated all together on different
social networks and also in the 2 groups of the project which are of Facebook.
1.29. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F
Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average
Maximum
results
16 students
80%
16 students
80%
17 students
85%
13 students
65%
16 students
78%
Minimum
results
- - - - -
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- The biggest percentages of maximum results were obtained at exercises E (85%), B (80%), C
(80%) where students found the tasks easier than they thought in 2013, therefore these
percentages show an improvement in their skills related to the use of English. These types of
exercises are familiar for students and they managed easily to solve tasks at B1 level.
- If there were percentages of minimum results in 2013 at these exercises, now, in 2015 there
are no minimum results obtained by students at all, which means that those who had low level of
English in 2013 managed to improve it in the past 2 years, which is also a result of their
participation in the Grundtvig project activities.
- The biggest percentage of minimum results obtained in 2013 was at exercise F (25%), where
students had to rephrase some sentences in a more polite way using modals and expressions.
This means that adult students were not familiar with using modals and specific expressions of
politeness. The focus was placed more on these structures and in 2015 even at exercise F there
were no minimum results, but medium (35%) and maximum (65%).
- The results of the test at use of English exercises lead to the conclusion that students have
improved greatly their understanding of written messages at level B1 and this is due not only to the
fact that this was a type of exercise generally used in school, but also to the fact that they
interacted with foreign teachers and students during the project activities.
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1.30. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES
In 2013:
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A
Use of English
B, C, E, F
Maximum
results
11 students
18%
22 students
37%
39 students
65%
19 students
31%
41 students
68%
Minimum
results
27 students
46%
13 students
21%
14 students
24%
8 students
14%
10 students
16%
In 2015:
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A
Use of English
B, C, E, F
Maximum
results
10 students
50%
15 students
75%
17 students
85%
15 students
75%
16 students
78%
Minimum
results
2 students
10%
1 student
5%
1 student
5%
- -
- Writing is one of the parts of the test where the students got a major improvement in their
results if we compare the percentages got at the beginning and at the end of the project. Thus,
there is a great improvement in the maximum results (from 18% in 2013 to 50% in 2015) and also
a major decrease in the minimum results (from 46% in 2015 to 10% in 2015). This shows that
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students have improved significantly their writing skills in the 2 years of the project being able now
to express themselves easier in writing and to build a text according to the task.
- Listening is the part where students also got excellent improved results when comparing the
results at both tests. For instance, in 2013, 37% of students got maximum results, while in 2015,
75% got the same good results, which means an improvement of 38%. Moreover, there was a
significant decrease of the minimum results from 21% in 2013 to 5% in 2015. The improvement of
the listening skills is due to the fact that students understood the importance of developing their
listening skills, but also because they have been involved in the project and had the chance to
communicate with teachers and students from the partner countries, not only directly during the
project meetings from each country, but also indirectly using social networks.
- Simple Reading A is the part in which students got the highest improvement of the maximum
results, from 31% in 2013 to 75% in 2015. The decrease of the minimum results was clear as well,
from 14% in 2013 to 0% in 2015. Although this is a common type of exercise very familiar to
students, their improvement was a result also of their participation in the project and of the chances
they had to communicate in writing with their peers from the partner countries.
- Reading is the part in which the maximum results improved from 65% in 2013 to 85% in 2015,
while the minimum results decreased significantly from 24% in 2013 to 5% in 2015. This type of
exercise in which students have to answer questions based on a written text is very common to all
students because it is widely used during the English classes, but also it’s worth mentioning
students’ motivation in developing their reading skills to be able to communicate with their friends
from the partner institutions.
- Use of English is the part in which the maximum results improved from 68% in 2013 to 78% in
2015, while the minimum results decreased from 16% to 0%. It is well-known that teachers use
these types of exercises more often with their students, therefore it’s easier for students just to
apply some grammar rules using the example given, but at the same time another reason for this
improvement of students’ skills is their involvement in the Grundtvig project activities.
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1.31. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
- Students who took part in this research attend the courses of the post-secondary school (adult
education) in their attempt to get a diploma at graduation which entitles them to find easier a
(better) job or to be able to keep the one they have currently. They represent the adults who want
to continue their education after graduating high school without going to the university from
different reasons: lack of financial possibilities to attend a university, lack of intellectual abilities,
their wish to prepare themselves for a certain job or qualification (several types of nurses, tourist
agent, stylist, nutritionist, event organizer etc) in order to find a job quickly or to open their own
small business. Some of them (especially the young ones) don’t have the Baccalaureate exam, but
the Romanian legislation allows them to attend a post-secondary school provided that they
manage to pass the Baccalaureate exam till their graduation (in 2-3 years time).
- At the post-secondary level English is a mandatory subject taught intensively in one (general
nurse, lab technician, chemist’s assistant) or two semesters (tourist guide, stylist, event organizer).
Teachers and students focus on specialized vocabulary for the specific areas and on the
improvement of the English skills required on the labor market of their specialism, but there are
difficulties encountered because in a group of 30 students, everyone has a different level from very
low (the majority) to possible B1 (only very few or maybe none).
- The test students were tested at twice, at the beginning and at the end of the Grundtvig project
showed 2 sets of different results which showed 2 complete different situations: in 2013 the
percentages showing the maximum results of the students were smaller, although 2 of them were
higher than 50%, namely Reading – 65% and Use of English – 68%. In 2015 the percentages
showing the maximum results of the students were significantly improved to the extent that all 5
skills had maximum results over 50%, 4 of them even higher than 75% (Listening – 75%, Reading
A – 75%, Use of English – 78% and Reading D – 85%).
- Comparing the minimum results obtained at each type of exercises at the beginning and at the
end of the project, we get significant percentages as well: in 2013 except Writing where the
percentage of the minimum results was huge till 46%, all the other percentages of the minimum
results were between 14 – 24%. On the other hand, in 2015 the percentages of the minimum
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results lowered significantly getting from 10% at Writing, 5% at Listening and Reading D and 0% at
Reading A and Use of English. This exceptional decrease at all types of exercises tested shows
that students have improved significantly their level of English in the past 2 years due to their
participation in the project activities and their interaction with teachrs and students from the partner
institutions.
- The most developed students’ skills are at Reading, Use of English and Listening (75-85%)
and it can be explained also by their involvement in communication and cooperating with their
peers and under the supervision of foreign teachers during the project activities.
- Listening skills have improved significantly although the lack of basic logistics is still a general
characteristic of our school. A major cause for this improvement was the fact that students
managed to interact with the foreign teachers while attending the international lessons of English
and also to communicate and make friends with their peers from partner institutions.
- Although the writing skills of students have evolved significantly improving the percentages in
the past 2 years, they still remain the least developed skill with a maximum result of 50% and a
minimum result of 10%. It is the most complex type of exercise at a foreign language due to the
abilities and knowledge it requires from students and it still requires efforts from teachers and
students to develop it in the future. Students’ communication in writing on the social networks will
continue helping them develop their writing skills at the same time.
- Due to the major increase in students’ results and their level of English, we consider that the
Grundtvig project, which offered the framework for all the activities that facilitated the improvement
of students’ skills, was very successful and benefic for all teachers and students involved.
- Nevertheless, there are still many things to improve in students’ level of English and the
sustainability of the project will be proved in using the didactic units designed by the partners even
after the end of the partnership during the English lessons to help students develop their skills.
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3. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - TARRAGONA, SPAIN
This final report shows the results achieved by the 22 adult students tested.
1.32. INTRODUCTION
This test has been carried out into two groups: CFGS (6 students) and ESO (16 students).
What is CFGS? We call CFGS, which stands for Cicles Formatius de Grau Superior, a single
year course that prepares students to take an exam that will allow them to enter High Vocational
School. This exam consists of 2 parts, a common part with 4 separate exams (Catalan, Spanish,
English and Maths) and a specific part with 2 exams that vary according to the Vocational studies
they want to access (so they can choose among subjects such as Chemistry, Geography,
Psychology, etc.). All the students must undertake the common part and they can convalidate the
specific part if they prove working experience on the field of the vocational studies they want to
follow.
On what English concerns, the exam is only a written exam with 3 parts: a reading
comprehension activity, grammar and use of language multiple choice questions and a writing task.
At our school, this year, we have two morning groups and one evening group. More than 30
students are registered at the beginning of the school year in each group but lots of them drop for
the year. This test was carried out after mid-May when they have already sat for their exam and
only 6 students of one group came to school for the test.
What is ESO? It stands for Educació Secundària Obligatòria (Compulsory Secondary Education)
and the students attending this Education are students who failed to get their Secondary Diploma
when they were teenagers and realise they need it, either to study further, either to find a job,
either to improve their working position. ESO is divided into two years, and students have to pass
18 modules. According to the course they reached when they where at Secondary School, they
can access the second year and get the diploma in only one year at school. This school year we
have 5 ESO groups: 2 first years – morning and evening – and 3 second year groups – morning,
afternoon and evening-. This test was carried out in the morning second year group.
This test has been carried out in the morning group of second year of ESO because in the first
year they don’t start English until the third term. These students have studied English for the year.
A significant number of them (jj0) resume their English learning process after many years of not
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using the language and some of them (3 out of 15) approach English language for the first time. As
in the GS group, the number of students is quite low because of drop off during the school year.
PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM
All the students who have answered this test have English as a part of broader curricula and
most of them have no interest in learning a foreign language. Their only motivation is to pass the
exam to attain the diploma they are looking for.
As written before, CFGS students have English as a part of the final common exam. This
English exam consists of 3 parts: a reading comprehension activity, grammar and use of language
multiple choice questions and a writing task. In order to prepare students to pass this exam, they
are taught English once a week in a two-hour session. Because of the very specific goal they are
pursuing (to pass the exam) and because of the exam (no oral interaction part, no listening part)
we work mainly with their reading/written abilities.
On the other hand, ESO students have to pass, at least, 3 English modules. At our school we
have a 3-month module at the end of the first year, and then two modules on the second year (first
and second term). We teach them two hours a week plus one hour a week of individual work,
mostly done through exercises and activities on the Moodle platform. These ESO courses try to put
emphasis on the main five skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking and interacting. This year, for
the first time, ESO students in the morning group have been having a CLIL subject and they have
been taught a scientific module (Diet and Nutrition) in English. This might have helped them to gain
confidence in English and must have had a positive influence in the results that we present below.
1.33. AGE
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The age of the students shows the percentages of the students involved in adult education: half
of them (50%) are young adults that come to the school immediately, or a short while after they
quitted a secondary school. This percentage has decreased as compare to the previous year. One
of the students is under 18, because of a very special situation. Only 18% are over 35, a no-
significant increase to last year percentage (14%). These elder students usually have to combine
education with more serious duties (family care and work) and all of them, except for one student,
approach English for the first time.
1.34. YEARS OF STUDYING
Percentages of students having studied English before are quite similar to last year ones, most
of them (59% this year / 53% last year) having studied English for 7 or more years. This
percentage is expected to increase since there is a tendency in starting to teach English sooner
and sooner at compulsory education.
1.35. EXTRA CLASSES
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Percentages of students attending extra classes are quite similar to last year results (41% have
attended extra classes this year, for 47% having attended them last year). Reasons for that are
explained in the initial test report.
1.36. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A
This year results show an increased level of reading skills, when compared to previous year
results, since none of the students this year got minimum marks, while 36% of them got minimum
marks last year. Probably, having been working with English for the school year has lowered their
fear to approach an English text. Of course, they have learnt (or refreshed) vocabulary and
structures that have helped them to understand texts better.
1.37. READING – D
Probably this reading comprehension task is the exercise with a higher level of difficulty (B1). As
in the previous reading task, this year results are much better than previous ones. 46% of the
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students got maximum results this year (only 8% last year), and the students with minimum results
has decreased from 75% last year to 18% this year.
1.38. USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F
Exercise
B
Exercise
C Exercise E Exercise F Average
Maximum
results
12
students
63%
14
students
64%
11 students
50%
2 students
9%
10
students
47%
Minimum
results
3
students
14%
4 students
18%
8 students
36%
16 students
73%
7 students
21%
These data show as well a significant improvement in more traditional grammar exercises (matching
exercises, put lines in order, etc.). 47% of the students got maximum results this year (19% last year) and
the number of students with a low mark decreased to from 65% last year to 21% this year. They have
improved their results in most of the exercises, being significant the improvement on exercise C (64% of the
students got maximum results this year, while only 6% last year). Exercise F is the only one that presents
worse results this year since 9% of the students got the maximum marks, while 14% of them got maximum
marks last year. Even though, the students with low marks at this exercise have decreased from 84% to
73%.
1.39. LISTENING – G
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These year results in the listening skill are much better than previous one since 23% of the
students got the maximum mark (none of them last year) and the students with minimum marks
has decreased from 89% to 27%. There is much work to be done on that area but it seems that we
got some improvements.
1.40. WRITING – H
It is as well significant the improvement of results in the writing area, especially in the GS group,
since they have been preparing hard for the writing part of the exam they sat in May. One of the
most significant things is that they aren’t as afraid of writing as they were the previous year (86% of
them got low marks in this area for 45% this year). Numbers have raised as well at the high part,
and we have 9% of students that got top marks (none of them got these last year).
1.41. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES
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Results in October 2013
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A
Use of English
B, C, E, F
Maximum
results
0 students 0 students 3 students
8%
5 students
14%
7 students
19%
Minimum
results
31 students
86%
32 students
89%
27 students
75%
13 students
36%
14 students
39%
Results in May/June 2015
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A
Use of English
B, C, E, F
Maximum
results
2 students
9%
5 students
23%
10 students
46%
15 students
68%
10 students
47%
Minimum
results
10
students
45%
6 students
27%
4 students
18%
0 students
0%
7 students
21%
Even if the results in all areas are significantly better this year, we have to notice that writing and
listening are still the most difficult areas for our students and lot of efforts have to be put there to
improve those results.
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1.42. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
Even of the level of students is still quite low, some improvements have been made if compared
with the test carried out at the beginning of the school-year 2013/2014. Even though, we have to
take into account that these results might be a little biased since students who take the exam this
year aren’t the same as they took it last year (GS students stay at school only for one year and
students at the second year of GESO are new students every year, too) and, of course, one year of
teaching/learning English must have had an influence in their achievements.
On the one hand, we appreciate an improvement in most of the areas, being notorious
significant the improvement in the writing task, especially in the GS group. It’s clear that this group
has been preparing for an exam with a written part and that they have worked and improved on
that area.
On the other hand, much work has to be done to try to increase our students’ competence in the
listening skill and, especially, in the writing skill.
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4. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - ISTANBUL, TURKEY
1.43. INTRODUCTION
We have applied this test to our 27 students who study in ICT department. They study English 2
hours a week. They are 2nd grade students.
1.44. AGE
57.1% of the students are between 18-24 years. This group of the student has the biggest
percentages of involved students. Most of these students are going on their studies to get their
post-secondary diploma. Almost none of them is married, there are some of them who are working.
39.3% of students are between 25-34 years and 0.6% of them are over 35. Some of these student
are married and have children. Moreover almost all of them are working. They are coming to the
school to get the diploma so that they may have a better position in their work, or they may run
their own business.
1.45. YEARS OF STUDYING
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There are not any students who have studied English less than 3 years. They all have studied
English at least 3 years or more. 35.7% of the students have studied English between 3or 6 years.
And 64.7% of them have studied at least 7 years or more.
1.46. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Students study English 2 hours a week. The foreign language is only part of the general
curriculum and its aim is mostly to familiarize students with vocabulary and specific terms from the
domains they are preparing for and to help them improve their communication skills in a foreign
language. And as a new regulation made in 2014, 9th grade students have begun to study English
6 hours in a week.
1.47. EXTRA CLASSES
The 8 students have attended private courses and 20 students have not attended any private
classes of English. In Turkey there are many private courses where the students have the chance
to learn and improve English. They may also attend the courses provided by the government.
1.48. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A
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7 students got 5 points. 3 students are younger than 25, and 4 students are between older than
25. And 3 of these students have attended private courses
20 of the students who got 2-4 points, and only 1 student got 0-2 points. These results show that
they have improved their English comparing the initial test result held before that.
1.49. USE OF ENGLISH – B
When it is compared to first initial test the students are more successful and got higher scores.
5students got maximum point, and 3 students got 2point or less. The two of students who got the
maximum points are younger than 25, and the 3 of them are younger than 35. The 2 of these
students have attended to a private English course. The students who got the minimum point in
part B have not attended any private English course and 2 of them are younger than 25, and one of
them is 34 years old.
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1.50. USE OF ENGLISH – C
Only 7students got maximum point while arranging the lines in the correct order to make a
dialogue. There aren’t any students who got 0 point. 6 students who got the maximum points are
younger than 25 and only one of them have attended to a private English course, and 1 student
who got the maximum point is 26 years old and has attended to a private English course
1.51. USE OF ENGLISH – E
Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task
which 4 students did correctly. 16students got 4-2 points. And 8 students got 2-0 points.
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1.52. USE OF ENGLISH – F
Rewriting the phrases in a more polite way using the given expressions was a task completed
correctly only by 2students. And only 2 students got 4 points. They had diffulty in rewriting the
given phrases in a more polite way.
1.53. READING – D
The reading text has specific vocabulary which may be difficult for students to understand.
Therefore they were not capable of answering the questions.
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1.54. LISTENING – G
There are not any students who got 4points in listening part. And only 1 student who is 25 got 3
points in this part and the student has attended to a private English course.
And 4 students got 0 point in this part and their age is 19,27,29 and 39.
1.55. WRITING – H
There are not any students who got more than 6 points. Ane only 8 students got 3-7 points in
writing part. And 6students got 6 points which is the maximum point in this part.and there are not
any students who got less than 3 points.
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1.56. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:
Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average
Maximum
results
5 students
17.9%
7 students
25%
4 students
14.3%
1 students
3.5%
4 students
15%
Minimum
results
3 students
10.7%
21 students
75%
8 students
28.6%
19 students
67.9%
13 students
46%
- The biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercise C (25%). The second
biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercise B (17.9%)
- The biggest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise C (75%)
- The smallest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise B (10.7%).
1.57. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES:
Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of
English B,
C, E, F
Maximum
results
0 students
0%
1 student
3.96%
2 students
7.1%
7 students
25%
4 students
15%
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Minimum
results
0 students
0%
27 students
96.4%
19students
67.9%
1 student
3.96%
13 students
46%
-Writing is the only part where there is not any max. or min. result, all the student got points
between 3-7. (100%) Comparing the first test held last year in which students got the minimum
results in writing, the students have improved their writing and managed to write simple sentences
about themselves. It was really difficult for them to express themselves in writing and they were not
be able to create sentences correctly both semantically and grammatically. Their knowledge of
grammar and vocabulary is not sufficient to make sentences. However according to the result of
the last test, it can be said that they improve their English.
- Listening is the part where the students got the minimum result, therefore it can be said that
the students may exposure to much more listening activities. We can not compare the last test’s
result with the last test held because we could not apply the listening part due to the technical
problem. There is only 1 student who got maximum point in the last test held.
- Simple Reading in part A students got the biggest percentage of maximum result, and 7
students got 5 points, however in the previous test held the were not any students who got 5
points. And this shows that they have improved their reading and using simple past tense.
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- Reading is the part where the students got the second biggest maximum result. Only 2
students got the maximum result. And it shows that we need to do much more reading activities to
improve their reading.
- Use of English is the part in which 4 students got the maximum results .However this part of
the exam is the one in which students got their best results.
1.58. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:
The students took this exam for the second time, so that we can see and understand their
improvement and we can compare the results of these two exams. Students who took part in this
research are adult students. They also come to our school in order to get a post-secondary
diploma. Because of being a vocational one, our school gives them a chance of running a business
with that diploma. They are adult students who had to give up their studies because of failure or
need of working. And they attend our courses to finish their studies. After that they may want to go
on their studies at university or they may have a better position in their job.
The students have improved their skills of English, however there are some skills such as
Reading and Listening. They have slightly improved these two skills. Therefore they need more
exercises to practice them.
The students who involved in this project showed improvement in their English.
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5. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
The results on the initial test submitted for the second time in May/June 2015, present a general
picture of the English language level of adult students in the four countries: Italy, Romania, Spain
and Turkey at the end of the project.
2013 2015
AVERAGE STUDENTS PASS EXAM
51%49%
YES NO
On average, 86% of all the students tested in the four countries passed the exam, for only 51%
having passed it at the start of the project (2013).
Arezzo
ITALY
Ploiesti
ROMANIA
Tarragona
SPAIN
Istanbul
TURKEY
2013 79% 82% 28% 14%
2015 100% 100% 77% 68%
Current results show and improvement of the level of English in all countries. The improvement
is more significant in Turkey and in Spain where students showed very low results in 2013 but both
countries got more than half of the students passing the exam in 2015 (77% in Spain and 68% in
Turkey). The percentage isn’t so high in Italy and Romania, since these two countries presented
already quite good results at the start of the project (79% for Italy and 82% for Romania). Even
though, we must highlight that at the end of the project 100% of the students in both countries
passed the exam, being these data a notorious achievement.
The fracture between Romania and Italy and Spain and Turkey is still maintained but it has
decreased a little bit. Current results reflect how students can improve their level of English thanks
to adult education, compared to the results to the test in 2013 where the tests were carried at the
beginning of the school year and some of these students were at their first year in adult education.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 46 of 55
STUDENTS PASSED EXAM
86%
14%
YES
NO
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
2015
Average students pass exam
51%46%
3%
high results
medium results
low results
According to these data we have got to lower the number of low results significantly (from 37%
to 3%) but the percentage of high results has increased just a little bit (from 45% in 2013 to 51% in
2015). This is something that should be worked on and taken into account if future work in the field
of teaching English in adult education is done. Usually, adult education focuses on providing basic
skills to students who didn’t acquire them in previous levels but we should think as well about
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 47 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
STUDENTS THAT PASSED THE EXAM
High results Medium results Low results
AREZZO
17%
83%
PLOIESTI
53%40%
7%
TARRAGONA
33%
64%
3% ISTANBUL
23%
77%
2015
STUDENTS THAT PASSED THE EXAM
High results Medium results Low results
Arezzo students pass exam
85%
15%
Ploiesti students pass exam
55%
45%
Tarragona students pass exam
46%
45%
9%
Istanbul students pass exam
18%
78%
4%
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 48 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
46% 46%
86%
81%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%%STUDENTS
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
MINIMUM RESULT AT WRITING H
2015
11% 10%
45%
0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
%STUDENTS
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
MINIMUM RESULT AT WRITING H
Writing is the part of the test where Spain (86%) and Turkey (81%) got the minimum results in
Turkey. Italy and Romania got quite a negative percentage (46%), too. At the second time we
submitted the test to the students these results where decreased by a half in nearly all countries
(from 46% to 11% in Italy, from 46% to 10% in Romania, from 86% to 45% in Spain and from 81%
to 0% in Turkey). The improvement has been high in all countries and exceptional in Turkey where
no student got a minimum result, while 81% of the Turkish students in 2013 got low marks. Spain
should remain working hard on it since nearly half of their students got low results in this part.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 49 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
2015
7% 5%
27%
96%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
%STUDENTS
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
MINIMUM RESULT AT LISTENING G
The listening skill wasn't tested in Turkey in 2013 because of logistics (they didn’t have a CD
available to carry out this part of the exam). They passed it in 2015 but the results were very poor
(96% got minimum results), probably due to the lack of habitude in listening since they are not
used to it. In all other countries the percentage of low results has decreased being notorious in
Spain (from 89% to 27%) and Italy (75% to 7%). These results are quite satisfying and show that
improvement has been achieved during the project period.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 50 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
2015
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
0%
5%
18%
68%
%STUDENTS
MINIMUM RESULTAT READING D
As regards reading, the percentages of minimum results were in general quite low in 2013 and
they are still better in all countries now, except for Turkey (they went from 30% in 2013 to 68% in
2015).
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 51 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
2015
4% 0% 0%
4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
%STUDENTS
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
MINIMUM RESULT AT READING A
The smallest percentages of minimum results obtained at reading A show that students manage
to read at A1 level quite well (0% failure in Romania and Spain and only 4% in Italy and Turkey).
These results show an improvement when compared to 2013, even though they were quite good in
all countries then, as well.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 52 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
2013
25%
16%
39%
54%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
%STUDENTS
Italy Romania Spain Turkey
MINIMUM RESULT ON USE OF ENGLISH
B, C, E, F
2015
Use of English is the part of the test where the Turkish students got the highest percentage of
minimum results (54%), followed by the Spanish students (39%) in 2013. These figures have
improved in both countries (45% in Turkey and 21% in Spain that obtains the same results as Italy
in 2015). Romania has obtained excellent results in that part and none of the Romanian students
got low marks in those exercises (having decreased from 16% in 2013 to 0% in 2015).
As we highlighted in the previous report, these results show that adult students are generally
familiar with these types of exercises and they manage to solve tasks at A2 level.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 53 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
After comparing results from 2013 to those from 2015 we see a significant improvement in
English communicative competences in the four schools that have been working in the project.
This is what stats show. Of course, not only the project has had a positive impact on the
teaching/learning process in our schools but there are other factors that have to be taken into
account: 2015 test was carried out at the end of the school year, while 2013 test was carried out at
the beginning of school year; most of the students who sat for the test in 2015 where different from
those who sat for it in 2013 (having the latter finished their studies in June 2014); and so on. These
are things to be considered when assessing the results and cannot be ignored when drawing
conclusions.
Even though, it doesn’t underestimate the value that the project has had for the four institutions.
On the one hand, carrying out these tests, made us aware of our own weaknesses and, as well,
comparing our results with those from all the partner institutions helped us to figure out where we
are and what must be improved. Talking about it with colleagues that have, or don’t have, the same
problems helped us to enrich our resources and learn from different types of teaching, from
different systems of education, and so on.
On the other hand, the new materials have tried to cope with the weaknesses we found in our
students and as well in the materials we used so far and having the chance to use them in the
classrooms has helped the teachers to deal with these weaknesses. The materials we designed
and used are thought specifically for adult students, the topics we chose tried to deal with the
interests we have observed our students have and they focus on English as language of
communication in Europe and not only as the language of the UK or USA, as most of published
materials do. This latter fact helps to raise the consciousness of European citizenship.
There are, as well, many no-stats tokens that have to be taken into consideration, as well. But
these we mean the self-confidence that the students who have had the chance to speak in English
with foreign people have gained, the motivation to learn English that rocketed in nearly all the
students that have had the chance to participate in mobilities, the awareness of the importance that
English as a language of communication among European citizens has, etc.
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 54 of 55
FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015
REPORT AUTHORS
Monica ANDREI
Liceul Tehnologic de Servicii "Sfantul Apostol Andrei"
Maurizio BONATESTA
Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni"
Yolanda CABRÉ SANS
Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanés i Dalmau
Alessandra GATTESCHI
Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni"
Rafael GUINOVART BELLMUNT,
Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanés i Dalmau
Nazan GÜVEN
İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi
Yildiz SALIH
İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi
Kezban Sevda YIYIT
İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi
PE-MC-EAE Pag. 55 of 55

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Final report on the initial test 2 may 2015

  • 1. PE-MC-EAE Promoting English as Means of Communication in European Adult Education 2013 - 1 - ES - GRU06 - 73300 FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST 2 (May 2015) Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni", Arezzo - ITALY Liceul Tehnologic de Servicii "Sfantul Apostol Andrei", Ploiesti, ROMANIA Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanès i Dalmau, Tarragona, SPAIN İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi, Istanbul, TURKEY
  • 2. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 INDEX 1.1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................5 1.2. AGE OF THE STUDENTS....................................................................................5 1.3. YEARS OF STUDYING........................................................................................5 1.4. EXTRA CLASSES................................................................................................6 1.5. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A............6 1.6. USE OF ENGLISH – B.........................................................................................7 1.7. USE OF ENGLISH – C.........................................................................................7 1.8. USE OF ENGLISH – E.........................................................................................7 1.9. USE OF ENGLISH – F..........................................................................................8 1.10. READING – D.....................................................................................................8 1.11. LISTENING – G.................................................................................................9 1.12. WRITING – H......................................................................................................9 1.13. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:................................................................10 1.14. CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES:............................................................11 1.15. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................12 1.16. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................14 1.17. AGE..................................................................................................................14 1.18. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................15 1.19. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM..........................................16 1.20. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................16 1.21. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A .......17 1.22. USE OF ENGLISH – B.....................................................................................18 1.23. USE OF ENGLISH – C.....................................................................................18 1.24. USE OF ENGLISH – E.....................................................................................19 1.25. USE OF ENGLISH – F......................................................................................20 1.26. READING – D...................................................................................................20 1.27. LISTENING – G................................................................................................21 1.28. WRITING – H....................................................................................................22 1.29. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F.............................................23 1.30. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES............................................................25 1.31. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................27 1.32. INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................29 1.33. AGE..................................................................................................................30 1.34. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................31 1.35. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................31 1.36. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A........32 1.37. READING – D...................................................................................................32 1.38. USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F........................................................................33 1.39. LISTENING – G................................................................................................33 1.40. WRITING – H....................................................................................................34 1.41. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES............................................................34 1.42. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS..............................................................................36 PE-MC-EAE Pag. 2 of 55
  • 3. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.43. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................37 1.44. AGE..................................................................................................................37 1.45. YEARS OF STUDYING....................................................................................37 1.46. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM..........................................38 1.47. EXTRA CLASSES............................................................................................38 1.48. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A........38 1.49. USE OF ENGLISH – B.....................................................................................39 1.50. USE OF ENGLISH – C.....................................................................................40 1.51. USE OF ENGLISH – E.....................................................................................40 1.52. USE OF ENGLISH – F......................................................................................41 1.53. READING – D...................................................................................................41 1.54. LISTENING – G................................................................................................42 1.55. WRITING – H....................................................................................................42 1.56. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH:................................................................43 1.57. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES:...........................................................43 1.58. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS:.............................................................................45 PE-MC-EAE Pag. 3 of 55
  • 4. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 INTRODUCTION The aim of the initial test1 was to collect data and information about the students’ level of English in adult education in Europe in order to represent the starting point in the next level of our project: designing the teaching materials for adult classes2 . At the end of the project we submitted the same test for a second time in order to compare results and be able to assess the impact of the project in our institutions. We have been written down some conclusions after collecting, processing, examining and comparing the data and information on the results achieved by their students. 1 You can read the test of the Test in the FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST Annex section. http://pemceae.blogspot.com.tr/p/initial-test.html. 2 All the material is published on the website project at the http://pemceae.blogspot.com.tr PE-MC-EAE Pag. 4 of 55
  • 5. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1. FINAL REPORT - AREZZO, ITALY 1.1. INTRODUCTION This final report shows the results achieved by the 27 adult students tested in May 2015. Students were given the same test they were asked to do at the beginning of the project so that results can be compared. 1.2. AGE OF THE STUDENTS AGE 59%19% 22% G1 (18-24 years) =16 students G2 (25-34 years) = 5 students G3 (35+ years) = 6 students As the pie chart shows, the age of the students involved in adult education is mainly between 18-24 years. During the last few years more and more young students are attending courses in adult education. 1.3. YEARS OF STUDYING YEARS OF STUDYING 7% 15% 78% Y3 (0-2 years) = 2 student Y6 (3-6 years) = 4 students Y7 (7+ years) = 21 students Thanks to the introduction of the English language as a compulsory school subject in all primary schools in 2004, the number of years for studying English in State schools increased from 0-5 to PE-MC-EAE Pag. 5 of 55
  • 6. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 10-13 and young adult students have studied English a bigger number of years and have a higher level of English than older adult students who have studied English fewer years and interrupted their studies long time ago. 1.4. EXTRA CLASSES EXTRA CLASSES 11% 89% Yes = 3 students No = 24 students In Italy there are only private courses of English for adults organized by language schools, but they are expensive and not everyone can afford them, this explains the number of 24 adults out of 27 who have never attended extra classes of English. 1.5. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A READING - A 74% 22% 4% 4-5 points = 20 students 2-3 points = 6 students 0-1 points = 1 students The results show that the majority of students (74%) can understand a written text and answer questions properly. Only one student got 0-1 points. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 6 of 55
  • 7. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.6. USE OF ENGLISH – B USE OFENGLISH – B 11% 89% 8 points = 24 students 6 points = 3 students 0-2 points = 0 students Matching questions with the correct answers proved to be a very easy task for 24 adult students. 1.7. USE OF ENGLISH – C USE OFENGLISH – C 100% 5 points = 27 students 0-3 points = 0 students Arranging the lines in the correct order to make a dialogue was an easy task for the students. The 27 students had no mistakes no matter their age, which showed that the dialogue was not difficult. 1.8. USE OF ENGLISH – E USE OFENGLISH – E 81% 19% 5 points = 22 students 1-3 points = 5 students PE-MC-EAE Pag. 7 of 55
  • 8. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task which 22 students did correctly (they were 17 out of 24). Although the task was easy, 5 students (they were 7 out of 24) failed to match the imperatives with the correct contexts. 1.9. USE OF ENGLISH – F USE OFENGLISH – F 4% 33% 63% 5 points = 17 students 4 points = 1 students 0-3 points = 9 students In this task students had to understand the meaning of some sentences and of some polite expressions and to match them in order to create more polite sentences. The task was completed correctly by 17 students (they were 11) while 9 had difficulties (they were 9), getting less than 3 points. 1.10. READING – D READING- D 89% 11% 6-8 points = 24 students 3-5 points = 3 students 0-2 points = 0 students Students are usually well trained in reading skills which imply not only a comprehension of the text but also using grammar structures properly. 24 students answered questions correctly (they were 14) or with small mistakes. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 8 of 55
  • 9. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 Only 3 students didn’t complete the task properly (they were 7) proving that they neither understood the text nor answered the questions accordingly. 1.11. LISTENING – G LISTENING- G 67% 26% 7% 4 points = 18 students 2-3 points = 7 students 0-1 points = 2 students This exercise consisted of an audio text at B1 level which students had to listen to twice and then they had to answer 4 questions based on the text in order to prove that they understood the oral message. 18 students had no mistake (it was only 1) and 7 students managed to write 2-3 correct answers (they were 5). Only 2 students got the minimum number of points proving that they have no listening skills at B1 level. There were 18 students who got the minimum number of points in the same test in November 2013. The listening skills seem to have greatly improved compared to the results got two years ago. 1.12. WRITING – H WRITING- H 37% 52% 11% 8-10 points = 10 students 3-7 points = 14 students 0-2 points = 3 students PE-MC-EAE Pag. 9 of 55
  • 10. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 10 students out of 27 got 8 - 10 points at this exercise (they were 8) which means that they have developed writing skills in English at B1 level. 3 students didn’t write anything so they got 0 points. 14 students got an average of 5 points at this exercise, which means that they managed to express their basic ideas in a poor way and with grammar mistakes. So, writing skills seem to have improved compared to the previous results. 1.13. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH: Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average Maximum results 24 students 89% 27 students 100% 22 students 81% 17 students 63% 23 students 83% Minimum results 0 students 0 students 5 students 29% 9 students 54% 4 students 21% CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH 24 27 22 17 23 0 0 5 9 4 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average Exercise Studentsnumber Maximum results Minimum results The biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercises C and B (100% and 89%). The biggest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise F (54%) and this means that adult students are not familiar with using modals and specific expressions of politeness. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 10 of 55
  • 11. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 The smallest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise B where no students got the minimum and this leads to the conclusion that students have a good understanding of written messages and are generally familiar with this type of exercise. 1.14. CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES: Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 10 students 37% 18 students 67% 24 students 89% 20 students 74% 23 students 83% Minimum results 3 students 11% 2 students 7% 0 students 1 students 4% 4 students 21% CONCLUSIONS ABOUT EXERCISES 10 18 24 20 23 3 2 0 1 4 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Studentsnumber Maximum results Minimum results - Writing is the part of the test where only 11% of the students got the minimum results (it was 46% in November 2013) and 37% of the students got the maximum results. - Listening is the part where only 7% of students got minimum results (they were 75%) and 67% got maximum results. This means that listening skills have greatly improved in adult education compared to the results got in November 2013. - Reading is the part where the majority of students, 89%, got maximum results (it was 58%) and no one of them got the minimum results. This type of exercise in which students have to answer PE-MC-EAE Pag. 11 of 55
  • 12. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 questions based on a written text is very common to all students because it is widely used during the English classes. - Simple Reading A is the part in which 20 students (74%) got maximum results and only one got minimum results. - Use of English is the part in which 23 students out of 27 (83%) got the maximum results and only 4 (21%) got the minimum results because teachers use these types of exercises more often with their students compared to other types of exercises. 1.15. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS As already stated in the previous report on the initial test, the main objective of young and adult students participating in this research and attending evening classes at state secondary school is to get a diploma which will allow them to find a job or to improve their current working position. The students who decide to join evening classes are always highly motivated because coming back to school is only their own choice. They all have different life experiences and backgrounds but they realize how important it is being educated and getting new skills such as learning English as a foreign language. Since our school is a technical business school and the two courses for adults are Accounting and Social Services, students in the fourth and fifth classes study the micro-language that is business English and English for social services. Students who have taken part in this research proved that studying English for 12 years in school doesn’t necessary mean that at the final state exam all students have a higher level of English. On the other hand, they also proved that with English taught only a few years (as it used to be until some years ago) it’s impossible to reach the highest level some students can reach after studying 12 years. The conclusion is that introducing English as a compulsory subject in every year of primary and Secondary school curricula was a very good choice because it gives students the opportunity to develop their English skills and to reach the level of intermediate English speakers. Younger adult students generally develop a higher level of English while older adults who interrupted their studies 15-20 years ago and studied English only for few years have difficulties in learning a foreign language. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 12 of 55
  • 13. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 - The most developed students’ skills are at use of English and reading (the maximum results at these exercises reach 89% and 83% of the students) due to the fact that in general teachers use mostly this type of exercises during the English classes. - The writing skills have slightly improved, compared to the results got in November 2013, but they confirm to be the most difficult skills in a foreign language due to the ability and knowledge involved. Young adults are generally better at writing than older adults because they have studied English longer at school. - The listening skills of students seem to have greatly improved compared to the results got in November 2013, where 18 students out of 24 got minimum results. In May 2015, 18 students out of 27 got maximum results and only 2 got minimum results. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 13 of 55
  • 14. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - PLOIESTI, ROMANIA 1.16. INTRODUCTION The test has been carried out in May 2015 and there were 20 adult students tested from different groups from our school as follows: 9 were from General Nursing, 4 from Laboratory Technician, 6 from Nutritionist Assistant and 1 from Tourist Guide. The 20 students tested were involved in the Grundtvig project activities to different extent, 5 of them taking part in 2 project meetings as well. The test carried out was the same test adult students from our institution sat in 2013, at the beginning of the project and it doesn’t focus mainly on Grammar exercises, but rather on the 4 skills (Reading comprehension activities, Use of English multiple choice questions, Listening tasks and Writing exercises). The reason for testing students with the same initial test, which was used 2 years ago at the beginning of the Grundtvig project, was that I wanted to measure the initial results obtained by students in 2013 with the results got in 2015 at the end of the project. My purpose was to identify exactly the things which have improved in the 2 years of project, to what extent students’ skills have developed and what aspects of the English language are still to be improved in the future. It’s worth mentioning that our students attend their classes to get a diploma in their specialism which interests them and the study of English is only a part of the compulsory curriculum for 1 or 2 semesters. They don’t attend classes with the purpose of getting a diploma in English or with the purpose only of improving their English skills. 1.17. AGE - G1 (18-24 years) = 10 students – 50 % - G2 (25-34 years) = 4 students – 20 % - G3 (35+ years) = 6 students – 30 % PE-MC-EAE Pag. 14 of 55
  • 15. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 The age of the students shows the percentages of the students involved in adult education: the biggest number represents adults who continue their studies at the post-secondary level right after the high-school graduation and before getting married or having children – 50%; the smallest number represents adults who attend school in the period of time when they usually start up their family and have children – 20%; a bigger percentage than the second one represents the adults who are 35 years or more, already have family and children and decide to continue their studies for their career or a new job – 30%. They are in this school because they want to graduate a specialism and get a diploma which may help them in preserving their current job or in finding a better job in the future. 1.18. YEARS OF STUDYING - Y3 (0-3 years) = 2 students – 10% - Y6 (3-6 years) = 8 students – 40% - Y7 (7+ years) = 10 students – 50% Due to the changes in the curriculum that happened in the past 20 years, the number of years for studying English in primary and secondary school increased from 0-3 to 12-13, therefore the age for starting studying this language has decreased and nowadays children are involved in this activity starting kindergarten. This explains the big percentages of students who have studied English for 3 – 7+ years in school. That is why, older adult students have studied English fewer years and younger ones studied English longer, which leads to the conclusion that younger adult students have a higher level of English skills than the older ones. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 15 of 55
  • 16. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.19. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM Every specialism in my post-secondary school has English as a part of the curriculum, therefore students have this subject no matter what they study for (general nurse, lab assistant, nutritionist, tourist guide, stylist or event organizer). Nevertheless, English is not a main subject there because on the whole it is studied only 60–120 hours divided in 1 or 2 semesters (out of 3–6 semesters). There are not courses students can attend just for studying English, but courses students attend to get a diploma in one of the specialism areas from above, the foreign language is only part of the general curriculum and its aim is mostly to familiarize students with vocabulary and specific terms from the domains they are preparing for and to help them improve their communication skills in a foreign language. 1.20. EXTRA CLASSES - yes = 1 student – 5% - no = 19 students – 95% The student who has attended private classes of English is younger than 24 years and she understands how important a foreign language is for her career as a nurse in a hospital from the UK. In Romania, except the short courses organized by the local community for the unemployed citizens (which are part of European POSDRU projects other institutions from the local community have been awarded with and which are regarded as not very well targeted to high results in improving students’ English skills after attending them because adults don’t usually get visible results), there are only private courses of English for adults organized by different language schools, but they are expensive and not everyone can afford them. This explains the percentage of 95% adults who have never attended extra classes of English. Adults know that English is a language which can be very expensive if it is not learned at the right time while being students in primary and secondary school. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 16 of 55
  • 17. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.21. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A - 4-5 points = 15 students – 75% - 2-4 points = 5 students – 25% - 0-2 points = 0 students – 0% 13 out of 15 students got the maximum 5 points. They are younger than 27 years old, studied English for more than 7 years and are interested in developing their English skills because their intention is to find a job abroad especially as nurses and English is mandatory. Their good results could be explained not only by the number of years they’ve studied English in school, but also by their involvement in the Grundtvig project activities. Five of them attended the project meetings in Arezzo and Istanbul, and the others were involved in a way or another in the activities organized locally when our school hosted the project meeting in September 2014 (they took part directly in the project activities, hosted foreign students and had the chance to communicate with them in English developing their skills). The students who got 2-4 points are 27-35 years old, and although they have studied English for some years in school, their skills are not quite well developed. Moreover, 1 of them didn’t take part in any project activity, but the rest of 4 have taken part in the project activities organized when our school hosted the project meeting. Students didn’t have any difficulties anymore in understanding the written questions or in answering the questions with given information according to the task (as it happened in the initial test when they found it difficult to answer the questions as if they had a different identity). This means that they have developed the comprehension skills related to the tasks they have. Using Past Simple was still a challenge for some students because they knew in general what was expected from them to answer, but they didn’t express that information correctly in the correct past simple form (either they answered shortly in one-word sentence, or they made mistakes in PE-MC-EAE Pag. 17 of 55
  • 18. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 using the past forms of the verb “to be” or in using the other verbs in the Past Simple). Nevertheless, the majority of the students improved their results in comparison with the results they got at the initial test 2 years ago. 1.22. USE OF ENGLISH – B - maximum 8 points = 16 students – 80 % - 6 points = 4 students – 20 % - 0-2 points = 0 students – 0 % In comparison with the results obtained at the initial test in 2013 when matching questions with the correct answers proved to be very hard for 2 students under the age of 24, (unable to reach A2 level at least, although they had studied many years of English in school), after 2 years of English and project activities, in 2015, no student took minimum points at this exercises and moreover, only 4 had 2 mistakes, the rest of 16 getting the maximum number of points. The improvement of their skills is obvious and it’s worth mentioning that they have also attended the Grundtvig project activities with the partner teachers and students exercising their English. 1.23. USE OF ENGLISH – C - 5 points = 16 students – 80% - 3-4 points = 4 students – 20% - 0-2 points = 0 students – 0% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 18 of 55
  • 19. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2 years ago arranging the lines in the correct order to make a dialogue was a difficult task for 8 students (7 of them younger than 24 years and having studied English for more years than the older ones). In comparison, now out of 20 no student had any difficulty in solving this task and only 4 students had 1-2 small mistakes, the majority of 80% of students sitting the test being able easily to get the maximum number of points. 1.24. USE OF ENGLISH – E - 5 points = 17 students – 85% - 4 points = 3 students – 15% - 1-3 points = 0 students – 0% Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task which about 35% students did incorrectly in 2013 although they were younger than 24 years and had studied this foreign language more years than the old ones in school without reaching at least A2 level of English. Now, after 2 years of project and students attending the activities with the partner teachers and students, their results improved to the point that only 3 students had 1 mistake and the rest of 85% of students solved the task without any mistake, which means that their English skills have improved being able now to understand the written sentences and the imperatives. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 19 of 55
  • 20. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.25. USE OF ENGLISH – F - 5 points = 13 students – 65% - 4 points = 7 students – 35% - 0-3 points = 0 students – 0% In 2013 rewriting the phrases in a more polite way using the given expressions was a task where 15 students had difficulties (out of which 13 younger than 24 years meaning that many years of studying English hadn’t helped them to increase their level of English). In 2015 the results have improved a lot, and the percentages prove this: no students got minimum results and 35% of students had only one mistake, which means that the rest of 65% got the maximum number of points. It was a major improvement regarding the students who managed to upgrade their level of English to such an extent that they had no minimum results, but only 7 medium ones. 1.26. READING – D - 6-8 points = 17 students – 85% - 4-5 points = 2 students (5 points) – 10% - 0-3 points = 1 student (3 points) – 5% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 20 of 55
  • 21. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 The text was at B1 level and it had a specific vocabulary and basic grammar structures at different tenses. Answering the questions supposed reading comprehension of the text and of the questions as well. Moreover, the answers implied not only complete sentences with certain structure and correct tenses (grammar structures) from the questions, but also choosing from the text the right parts. In 2013, 14 students didn’t manage to answer correctly or with small mistakes at the questions based on the given text related to earthquakes prediction proving that their reading comprehension was at a very low level and that they didn’t have the necessary communication skills to answer those questions. Although they were younger than 24 years and had studied English for a longer period of time, their linguistic skills hadn’t been developed enough to reach B1 level. Another 7 students answered only some of the questions, proving that their level was a bit higher, but not enough to get the maximum number of points. In 2015, only 1 student didn’t complete the task satisfactory proving that he neither understood the text entirely nor answered the questions accordingly, although he got 3 points proving that his comprehension is not quite zero. Another 2 students got 5 points out of 8 and the comparison of the results obtained in both years shows clearly that the minimum results decreased considerably which means that in the past 2 years the students improved their level of English getting close to a satisfactory B1 level. This improvement happened due to the project activities students were involved in too. 1.27. LISTENING – G - 3-4 points = 15 students – 75% - 2 points = 4 students – 20% - 0-2 points = 1student – 5% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 21 of 55
  • 22. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 This exercise consisted of an audio text at B1 level which students had to listen twice and then they had to answer 4 questions based on the text in order to prove that they understood the oral message. The last question was the most difficult for students because they had to enumerate some details they heard in the text. In 2013, 37% of the students managed to write 3-4 correct answers and 7 of them had no mistake. On the other hand, 21% of students got the minimum number of points proving that they have no listening skills at B1 level. The results showed that listening is a skill which hasn’t been developed enough during the school years no matter if students had English as a subject for a longer or a shorter number of years. This can be explained by the fact that teachers don’t use listening exercises, audio texts or videos during the English lessons due to the lack of logistics in the first place. In 2015 the percentages show a great improvement in students’ listening skills. 75% got the maximum results, 20% got 2 points and only 5% got the minimum results. The decrease of the number of students who got minimum points (from 21% in 2013 to 5% in 2015) along with the increase of the number of students who got the maximum results (from 37% in 2013 to 75% in 2015) show great improvement of the students’ listening skills and this is due to their participation in the project activities as well, especially their active interaction with the partner teachers and students during the project meeting organized in our institution. 1.28. WRITING – H - 8-10 points = 10 students – 50% - 3-7 points = 8 students – 40% - 0-2 points = 2 students – 10% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 22 of 55
  • 23. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 In 2013, 18% of the students got maximum points at this exercise and considering their age, it’s clear that mostly young students have developed writing skills in English at B1 level. This could be explained by the fact that they studied longer and more recently than the other adult students. A big percentage of 46% of students got very low marks at this exercise and out of them 35% didn’t write anything, so they got 0 points. This means that they had no writing skills at all and expressing themselves in a foreign language was beyond their achieved abilities. 36% got an average of 5 points at this exercise, which means that they managed to express their basic ideas in a poor way and with mistakes concerning the tenses and the main grammar aspects of the language. There were also mistakes at the level of the text structure concerning the construction of an email and the coverage of all the aspects from the task. In 2015, the percentage of students who got maximum number of points improved from 18% to 50% and the same happened with the percentage representing the students with a medium number of points (from 36% in 2013 to 40% in 2015). Another positive aspect is that the percentage of the students who got minimum results decreased substantially from 46% in 2013 to 10% in 2015. All these percentages show clearly that students’ writing abilities improved in the past 2 years and this is a clear effect of students’ participation in the project activities. It can be also explained by the fact that students exchanged emails and communicated all together on different social networks and also in the 2 groups of the project which are of Facebook. 1.29. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average Maximum results 16 students 80% 16 students 80% 17 students 85% 13 students 65% 16 students 78% Minimum results - - - - - PE-MC-EAE Pag. 23 of 55
  • 24. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 - The biggest percentages of maximum results were obtained at exercises E (85%), B (80%), C (80%) where students found the tasks easier than they thought in 2013, therefore these percentages show an improvement in their skills related to the use of English. These types of exercises are familiar for students and they managed easily to solve tasks at B1 level. - If there were percentages of minimum results in 2013 at these exercises, now, in 2015 there are no minimum results obtained by students at all, which means that those who had low level of English in 2013 managed to improve it in the past 2 years, which is also a result of their participation in the Grundtvig project activities. - The biggest percentage of minimum results obtained in 2013 was at exercise F (25%), where students had to rephrase some sentences in a more polite way using modals and expressions. This means that adult students were not familiar with using modals and specific expressions of politeness. The focus was placed more on these structures and in 2015 even at exercise F there were no minimum results, but medium (35%) and maximum (65%). - The results of the test at use of English exercises lead to the conclusion that students have improved greatly their understanding of written messages at level B1 and this is due not only to the fact that this was a type of exercise generally used in school, but also to the fact that they interacted with foreign teachers and students during the project activities. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 24 of 55
  • 25. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.30. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES In 2013: Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 11 students 18% 22 students 37% 39 students 65% 19 students 31% 41 students 68% Minimum results 27 students 46% 13 students 21% 14 students 24% 8 students 14% 10 students 16% In 2015: Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 10 students 50% 15 students 75% 17 students 85% 15 students 75% 16 students 78% Minimum results 2 students 10% 1 student 5% 1 student 5% - - - Writing is one of the parts of the test where the students got a major improvement in their results if we compare the percentages got at the beginning and at the end of the project. Thus, there is a great improvement in the maximum results (from 18% in 2013 to 50% in 2015) and also a major decrease in the minimum results (from 46% in 2015 to 10% in 2015). This shows that PE-MC-EAE Pag. 25 of 55
  • 26. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 students have improved significantly their writing skills in the 2 years of the project being able now to express themselves easier in writing and to build a text according to the task. - Listening is the part where students also got excellent improved results when comparing the results at both tests. For instance, in 2013, 37% of students got maximum results, while in 2015, 75% got the same good results, which means an improvement of 38%. Moreover, there was a significant decrease of the minimum results from 21% in 2013 to 5% in 2015. The improvement of the listening skills is due to the fact that students understood the importance of developing their listening skills, but also because they have been involved in the project and had the chance to communicate with teachers and students from the partner countries, not only directly during the project meetings from each country, but also indirectly using social networks. - Simple Reading A is the part in which students got the highest improvement of the maximum results, from 31% in 2013 to 75% in 2015. The decrease of the minimum results was clear as well, from 14% in 2013 to 0% in 2015. Although this is a common type of exercise very familiar to students, their improvement was a result also of their participation in the project and of the chances they had to communicate in writing with their peers from the partner countries. - Reading is the part in which the maximum results improved from 65% in 2013 to 85% in 2015, while the minimum results decreased significantly from 24% in 2013 to 5% in 2015. This type of exercise in which students have to answer questions based on a written text is very common to all students because it is widely used during the English classes, but also it’s worth mentioning students’ motivation in developing their reading skills to be able to communicate with their friends from the partner institutions. - Use of English is the part in which the maximum results improved from 68% in 2013 to 78% in 2015, while the minimum results decreased from 16% to 0%. It is well-known that teachers use these types of exercises more often with their students, therefore it’s easier for students just to apply some grammar rules using the example given, but at the same time another reason for this improvement of students’ skills is their involvement in the Grundtvig project activities. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 26 of 55
  • 27. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.31. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS - Students who took part in this research attend the courses of the post-secondary school (adult education) in their attempt to get a diploma at graduation which entitles them to find easier a (better) job or to be able to keep the one they have currently. They represent the adults who want to continue their education after graduating high school without going to the university from different reasons: lack of financial possibilities to attend a university, lack of intellectual abilities, their wish to prepare themselves for a certain job or qualification (several types of nurses, tourist agent, stylist, nutritionist, event organizer etc) in order to find a job quickly or to open their own small business. Some of them (especially the young ones) don’t have the Baccalaureate exam, but the Romanian legislation allows them to attend a post-secondary school provided that they manage to pass the Baccalaureate exam till their graduation (in 2-3 years time). - At the post-secondary level English is a mandatory subject taught intensively in one (general nurse, lab technician, chemist’s assistant) or two semesters (tourist guide, stylist, event organizer). Teachers and students focus on specialized vocabulary for the specific areas and on the improvement of the English skills required on the labor market of their specialism, but there are difficulties encountered because in a group of 30 students, everyone has a different level from very low (the majority) to possible B1 (only very few or maybe none). - The test students were tested at twice, at the beginning and at the end of the Grundtvig project showed 2 sets of different results which showed 2 complete different situations: in 2013 the percentages showing the maximum results of the students were smaller, although 2 of them were higher than 50%, namely Reading – 65% and Use of English – 68%. In 2015 the percentages showing the maximum results of the students were significantly improved to the extent that all 5 skills had maximum results over 50%, 4 of them even higher than 75% (Listening – 75%, Reading A – 75%, Use of English – 78% and Reading D – 85%). - Comparing the minimum results obtained at each type of exercises at the beginning and at the end of the project, we get significant percentages as well: in 2013 except Writing where the percentage of the minimum results was huge till 46%, all the other percentages of the minimum results were between 14 – 24%. On the other hand, in 2015 the percentages of the minimum PE-MC-EAE Pag. 27 of 55
  • 28. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 results lowered significantly getting from 10% at Writing, 5% at Listening and Reading D and 0% at Reading A and Use of English. This exceptional decrease at all types of exercises tested shows that students have improved significantly their level of English in the past 2 years due to their participation in the project activities and their interaction with teachrs and students from the partner institutions. - The most developed students’ skills are at Reading, Use of English and Listening (75-85%) and it can be explained also by their involvement in communication and cooperating with their peers and under the supervision of foreign teachers during the project activities. - Listening skills have improved significantly although the lack of basic logistics is still a general characteristic of our school. A major cause for this improvement was the fact that students managed to interact with the foreign teachers while attending the international lessons of English and also to communicate and make friends with their peers from partner institutions. - Although the writing skills of students have evolved significantly improving the percentages in the past 2 years, they still remain the least developed skill with a maximum result of 50% and a minimum result of 10%. It is the most complex type of exercise at a foreign language due to the abilities and knowledge it requires from students and it still requires efforts from teachers and students to develop it in the future. Students’ communication in writing on the social networks will continue helping them develop their writing skills at the same time. - Due to the major increase in students’ results and their level of English, we consider that the Grundtvig project, which offered the framework for all the activities that facilitated the improvement of students’ skills, was very successful and benefic for all teachers and students involved. - Nevertheless, there are still many things to improve in students’ level of English and the sustainability of the project will be proved in using the didactic units designed by the partners even after the end of the partnership during the English lessons to help students develop their skills. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 28 of 55
  • 29. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 3. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - TARRAGONA, SPAIN This final report shows the results achieved by the 22 adult students tested. 1.32. INTRODUCTION This test has been carried out into two groups: CFGS (6 students) and ESO (16 students). What is CFGS? We call CFGS, which stands for Cicles Formatius de Grau Superior, a single year course that prepares students to take an exam that will allow them to enter High Vocational School. This exam consists of 2 parts, a common part with 4 separate exams (Catalan, Spanish, English and Maths) and a specific part with 2 exams that vary according to the Vocational studies they want to access (so they can choose among subjects such as Chemistry, Geography, Psychology, etc.). All the students must undertake the common part and they can convalidate the specific part if they prove working experience on the field of the vocational studies they want to follow. On what English concerns, the exam is only a written exam with 3 parts: a reading comprehension activity, grammar and use of language multiple choice questions and a writing task. At our school, this year, we have two morning groups and one evening group. More than 30 students are registered at the beginning of the school year in each group but lots of them drop for the year. This test was carried out after mid-May when they have already sat for their exam and only 6 students of one group came to school for the test. What is ESO? It stands for Educació Secundària Obligatòria (Compulsory Secondary Education) and the students attending this Education are students who failed to get their Secondary Diploma when they were teenagers and realise they need it, either to study further, either to find a job, either to improve their working position. ESO is divided into two years, and students have to pass 18 modules. According to the course they reached when they where at Secondary School, they can access the second year and get the diploma in only one year at school. This school year we have 5 ESO groups: 2 first years – morning and evening – and 3 second year groups – morning, afternoon and evening-. This test was carried out in the morning second year group. This test has been carried out in the morning group of second year of ESO because in the first year they don’t start English until the third term. These students have studied English for the year. A significant number of them (jj0) resume their English learning process after many years of not PE-MC-EAE Pag. 29 of 55
  • 30. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 using the language and some of them (3 out of 15) approach English language for the first time. As in the GS group, the number of students is quite low because of drop off during the school year. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM All the students who have answered this test have English as a part of broader curricula and most of them have no interest in learning a foreign language. Their only motivation is to pass the exam to attain the diploma they are looking for. As written before, CFGS students have English as a part of the final common exam. This English exam consists of 3 parts: a reading comprehension activity, grammar and use of language multiple choice questions and a writing task. In order to prepare students to pass this exam, they are taught English once a week in a two-hour session. Because of the very specific goal they are pursuing (to pass the exam) and because of the exam (no oral interaction part, no listening part) we work mainly with their reading/written abilities. On the other hand, ESO students have to pass, at least, 3 English modules. At our school we have a 3-month module at the end of the first year, and then two modules on the second year (first and second term). We teach them two hours a week plus one hour a week of individual work, mostly done through exercises and activities on the Moodle platform. These ESO courses try to put emphasis on the main five skills: reading, writing, listening, speaking and interacting. This year, for the first time, ESO students in the morning group have been having a CLIL subject and they have been taught a scientific module (Diet and Nutrition) in English. This might have helped them to gain confidence in English and must have had a positive influence in the results that we present below. 1.33. AGE PE-MC-EAE Pag. 30 of 55
  • 31. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 The age of the students shows the percentages of the students involved in adult education: half of them (50%) are young adults that come to the school immediately, or a short while after they quitted a secondary school. This percentage has decreased as compare to the previous year. One of the students is under 18, because of a very special situation. Only 18% are over 35, a no- significant increase to last year percentage (14%). These elder students usually have to combine education with more serious duties (family care and work) and all of them, except for one student, approach English for the first time. 1.34. YEARS OF STUDYING Percentages of students having studied English before are quite similar to last year ones, most of them (59% this year / 53% last year) having studied English for 7 or more years. This percentage is expected to increase since there is a tendency in starting to teach English sooner and sooner at compulsory education. 1.35. EXTRA CLASSES PE-MC-EAE Pag. 31 of 55
  • 32. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 Percentages of students attending extra classes are quite similar to last year results (41% have attended extra classes this year, for 47% having attended them last year). Reasons for that are explained in the initial test report. 1.36. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A This year results show an increased level of reading skills, when compared to previous year results, since none of the students this year got minimum marks, while 36% of them got minimum marks last year. Probably, having been working with English for the school year has lowered their fear to approach an English text. Of course, they have learnt (or refreshed) vocabulary and structures that have helped them to understand texts better. 1.37. READING – D Probably this reading comprehension task is the exercise with a higher level of difficulty (B1). As in the previous reading task, this year results are much better than previous ones. 46% of the PE-MC-EAE Pag. 32 of 55
  • 33. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 students got maximum results this year (only 8% last year), and the students with minimum results has decreased from 75% last year to 18% this year. 1.38. USE OF ENGLISH – B, C, E, F Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average Maximum results 12 students 63% 14 students 64% 11 students 50% 2 students 9% 10 students 47% Minimum results 3 students 14% 4 students 18% 8 students 36% 16 students 73% 7 students 21% These data show as well a significant improvement in more traditional grammar exercises (matching exercises, put lines in order, etc.). 47% of the students got maximum results this year (19% last year) and the number of students with a low mark decreased to from 65% last year to 21% this year. They have improved their results in most of the exercises, being significant the improvement on exercise C (64% of the students got maximum results this year, while only 6% last year). Exercise F is the only one that presents worse results this year since 9% of the students got the maximum marks, while 14% of them got maximum marks last year. Even though, the students with low marks at this exercise have decreased from 84% to 73%. 1.39. LISTENING – G PE-MC-EAE Pag. 33 of 55
  • 34. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 These year results in the listening skill are much better than previous one since 23% of the students got the maximum mark (none of them last year) and the students with minimum marks has decreased from 89% to 27%. There is much work to be done on that area but it seems that we got some improvements. 1.40. WRITING – H It is as well significant the improvement of results in the writing area, especially in the GS group, since they have been preparing hard for the writing part of the exam they sat in May. One of the most significant things is that they aren’t as afraid of writing as they were the previous year (86% of them got low marks in this area for 45% this year). Numbers have raised as well at the high part, and we have 9% of students that got top marks (none of them got these last year). 1.41. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES PE-MC-EAE Pag. 34 of 55
  • 35. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 Results in October 2013 Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 0 students 0 students 3 students 8% 5 students 14% 7 students 19% Minimum results 31 students 86% 32 students 89% 27 students 75% 13 students 36% 14 students 39% Results in May/June 2015 Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 2 students 9% 5 students 23% 10 students 46% 15 students 68% 10 students 47% Minimum results 10 students 45% 6 students 27% 4 students 18% 0 students 0% 7 students 21% Even if the results in all areas are significantly better this year, we have to notice that writing and listening are still the most difficult areas for our students and lot of efforts have to be put there to improve those results. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 35 of 55
  • 36. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.42. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS Even of the level of students is still quite low, some improvements have been made if compared with the test carried out at the beginning of the school-year 2013/2014. Even though, we have to take into account that these results might be a little biased since students who take the exam this year aren’t the same as they took it last year (GS students stay at school only for one year and students at the second year of GESO are new students every year, too) and, of course, one year of teaching/learning English must have had an influence in their achievements. On the one hand, we appreciate an improvement in most of the areas, being notorious significant the improvement in the writing task, especially in the GS group. It’s clear that this group has been preparing for an exam with a written part and that they have worked and improved on that area. On the other hand, much work has to be done to try to increase our students’ competence in the listening skill and, especially, in the writing skill. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 36 of 55
  • 37. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 4. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST - ISTANBUL, TURKEY 1.43. INTRODUCTION We have applied this test to our 27 students who study in ICT department. They study English 2 hours a week. They are 2nd grade students. 1.44. AGE 57.1% of the students are between 18-24 years. This group of the student has the biggest percentages of involved students. Most of these students are going on their studies to get their post-secondary diploma. Almost none of them is married, there are some of them who are working. 39.3% of students are between 25-34 years and 0.6% of them are over 35. Some of these student are married and have children. Moreover almost all of them are working. They are coming to the school to get the diploma so that they may have a better position in their work, or they may run their own business. 1.45. YEARS OF STUDYING PE-MC-EAE Pag. 37 of 55
  • 38. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 There are not any students who have studied English less than 3 years. They all have studied English at least 3 years or more. 35.7% of the students have studied English between 3or 6 years. And 64.7% of them have studied at least 7 years or more. 1.46. PLACE OF ENGLISH IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM Students study English 2 hours a week. The foreign language is only part of the general curriculum and its aim is mostly to familiarize students with vocabulary and specific terms from the domains they are preparing for and to help them improve their communication skills in a foreign language. And as a new regulation made in 2014, 9th grade students have begun to study English 6 hours in a week. 1.47. EXTRA CLASSES The 8 students have attended private courses and 20 students have not attended any private classes of English. In Turkey there are many private courses where the students have the chance to learn and improve English. They may also attend the courses provided by the government. 1.48. ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROMPTS – A PE-MC-EAE Pag. 38 of 55
  • 39. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 7 students got 5 points. 3 students are younger than 25, and 4 students are between older than 25. And 3 of these students have attended private courses 20 of the students who got 2-4 points, and only 1 student got 0-2 points. These results show that they have improved their English comparing the initial test result held before that. 1.49. USE OF ENGLISH – B When it is compared to first initial test the students are more successful and got higher scores. 5students got maximum point, and 3 students got 2point or less. The two of students who got the maximum points are younger than 25, and the 3 of them are younger than 35. The 2 of these students have attended to a private English course. The students who got the minimum point in part B have not attended any private English course and 2 of them are younger than 25, and one of them is 34 years old. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 39 of 55
  • 40. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.50. USE OF ENGLISH – C Only 7students got maximum point while arranging the lines in the correct order to make a dialogue. There aren’t any students who got 0 point. 6 students who got the maximum points are younger than 25 and only one of them have attended to a private English course, and 1 student who got the maximum point is 26 years old and has attended to a private English course 1.51. USE OF ENGLISH – E Completing the instructions about how to watch a movie with the given imperatives was a task which 4 students did correctly. 16students got 4-2 points. And 8 students got 2-0 points. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 40 of 55
  • 41. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.52. USE OF ENGLISH – F Rewriting the phrases in a more polite way using the given expressions was a task completed correctly only by 2students. And only 2 students got 4 points. They had diffulty in rewriting the given phrases in a more polite way. 1.53. READING – D The reading text has specific vocabulary which may be difficult for students to understand. Therefore they were not capable of answering the questions. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 41 of 55
  • 42. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.54. LISTENING – G There are not any students who got 4points in listening part. And only 1 student who is 25 got 3 points in this part and the student has attended to a private English course. And 4 students got 0 point in this part and their age is 19,27,29 and 39. 1.55. WRITING – H There are not any students who got more than 6 points. Ane only 8 students got 3-7 points in writing part. And 6students got 6 points which is the maximum point in this part.and there are not any students who got less than 3 points. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 42 of 55
  • 43. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 1.56. CONCLUSIONS USE OF ENGLISH: Exercise B Exercise C Exercise E Exercise F Average Maximum results 5 students 17.9% 7 students 25% 4 students 14.3% 1 students 3.5% 4 students 15% Minimum results 3 students 10.7% 21 students 75% 8 students 28.6% 19 students 67.9% 13 students 46% - The biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercise C (25%). The second biggest percentage of maximum results was obtained at exercise B (17.9%) - The biggest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise C (75%) - The smallest percentage of minimum results was obtained at exercise B (10.7%). 1.57. CONCLUSIONS OF THE EXERCISES: Writing H Listening G Reading D Reading A Use of English B, C, E, F Maximum results 0 students 0% 1 student 3.96% 2 students 7.1% 7 students 25% 4 students 15% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 43 of 55
  • 44. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 Minimum results 0 students 0% 27 students 96.4% 19students 67.9% 1 student 3.96% 13 students 46% -Writing is the only part where there is not any max. or min. result, all the student got points between 3-7. (100%) Comparing the first test held last year in which students got the minimum results in writing, the students have improved their writing and managed to write simple sentences about themselves. It was really difficult for them to express themselves in writing and they were not be able to create sentences correctly both semantically and grammatically. Their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary is not sufficient to make sentences. However according to the result of the last test, it can be said that they improve their English. - Listening is the part where the students got the minimum result, therefore it can be said that the students may exposure to much more listening activities. We can not compare the last test’s result with the last test held because we could not apply the listening part due to the technical problem. There is only 1 student who got maximum point in the last test held. - Simple Reading in part A students got the biggest percentage of maximum result, and 7 students got 5 points, however in the previous test held the were not any students who got 5 points. And this shows that they have improved their reading and using simple past tense. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 44 of 55
  • 45. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 - Reading is the part where the students got the second biggest maximum result. Only 2 students got the maximum result. And it shows that we need to do much more reading activities to improve their reading. - Use of English is the part in which 4 students got the maximum results .However this part of the exam is the one in which students got their best results. 1.58. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS: The students took this exam for the second time, so that we can see and understand their improvement and we can compare the results of these two exams. Students who took part in this research are adult students. They also come to our school in order to get a post-secondary diploma. Because of being a vocational one, our school gives them a chance of running a business with that diploma. They are adult students who had to give up their studies because of failure or need of working. And they attend our courses to finish their studies. After that they may want to go on their studies at university or they may have a better position in their job. The students have improved their skills of English, however there are some skills such as Reading and Listening. They have slightly improved these two skills. Therefore they need more exercises to practice them. The students who involved in this project showed improvement in their English. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 45 of 55
  • 46. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 5. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS The results on the initial test submitted for the second time in May/June 2015, present a general picture of the English language level of adult students in the four countries: Italy, Romania, Spain and Turkey at the end of the project. 2013 2015 AVERAGE STUDENTS PASS EXAM 51%49% YES NO On average, 86% of all the students tested in the four countries passed the exam, for only 51% having passed it at the start of the project (2013). Arezzo ITALY Ploiesti ROMANIA Tarragona SPAIN Istanbul TURKEY 2013 79% 82% 28% 14% 2015 100% 100% 77% 68% Current results show and improvement of the level of English in all countries. The improvement is more significant in Turkey and in Spain where students showed very low results in 2013 but both countries got more than half of the students passing the exam in 2015 (77% in Spain and 68% in Turkey). The percentage isn’t so high in Italy and Romania, since these two countries presented already quite good results at the start of the project (79% for Italy and 82% for Romania). Even though, we must highlight that at the end of the project 100% of the students in both countries passed the exam, being these data a notorious achievement. The fracture between Romania and Italy and Spain and Turkey is still maintained but it has decreased a little bit. Current results reflect how students can improve their level of English thanks to adult education, compared to the results to the test in 2013 where the tests were carried at the beginning of the school year and some of these students were at their first year in adult education. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 46 of 55 STUDENTS PASSED EXAM 86% 14% YES NO
  • 47. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 2015 Average students pass exam 51%46% 3% high results medium results low results According to these data we have got to lower the number of low results significantly (from 37% to 3%) but the percentage of high results has increased just a little bit (from 45% in 2013 to 51% in 2015). This is something that should be worked on and taken into account if future work in the field of teaching English in adult education is done. Usually, adult education focuses on providing basic skills to students who didn’t acquire them in previous levels but we should think as well about PE-MC-EAE Pag. 47 of 55
  • 48. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 STUDENTS THAT PASSED THE EXAM High results Medium results Low results AREZZO 17% 83% PLOIESTI 53%40% 7% TARRAGONA 33% 64% 3% ISTANBUL 23% 77% 2015 STUDENTS THAT PASSED THE EXAM High results Medium results Low results Arezzo students pass exam 85% 15% Ploiesti students pass exam 55% 45% Tarragona students pass exam 46% 45% 9% Istanbul students pass exam 18% 78% 4% PE-MC-EAE Pag. 48 of 55
  • 49. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 46% 46% 86% 81% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%%STUDENTS Italy Romania Spain Turkey MINIMUM RESULT AT WRITING H 2015 11% 10% 45% 0% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% %STUDENTS Italy Romania Spain Turkey MINIMUM RESULT AT WRITING H Writing is the part of the test where Spain (86%) and Turkey (81%) got the minimum results in Turkey. Italy and Romania got quite a negative percentage (46%), too. At the second time we submitted the test to the students these results where decreased by a half in nearly all countries (from 46% to 11% in Italy, from 46% to 10% in Romania, from 86% to 45% in Spain and from 81% to 0% in Turkey). The improvement has been high in all countries and exceptional in Turkey where no student got a minimum result, while 81% of the Turkish students in 2013 got low marks. Spain should remain working hard on it since nearly half of their students got low results in this part. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 49 of 55
  • 50. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 2015 7% 5% 27% 96% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% %STUDENTS Italy Romania Spain Turkey MINIMUM RESULT AT LISTENING G The listening skill wasn't tested in Turkey in 2013 because of logistics (they didn’t have a CD available to carry out this part of the exam). They passed it in 2015 but the results were very poor (96% got minimum results), probably due to the lack of habitude in listening since they are not used to it. In all other countries the percentage of low results has decreased being notorious in Spain (from 89% to 27%) and Italy (75% to 7%). These results are quite satisfying and show that improvement has been achieved during the project period. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 50 of 55
  • 51. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 2015 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Italy Romania Spain Turkey 0% 5% 18% 68% %STUDENTS MINIMUM RESULTAT READING D As regards reading, the percentages of minimum results were in general quite low in 2013 and they are still better in all countries now, except for Turkey (they went from 30% in 2013 to 68% in 2015). PE-MC-EAE Pag. 51 of 55
  • 52. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 2015 4% 0% 0% 4% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% %STUDENTS Italy Romania Spain Turkey MINIMUM RESULT AT READING A The smallest percentages of minimum results obtained at reading A show that students manage to read at A1 level quite well (0% failure in Romania and Spain and only 4% in Italy and Turkey). These results show an improvement when compared to 2013, even though they were quite good in all countries then, as well. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 52 of 55
  • 53. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 2013 25% 16% 39% 54% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% %STUDENTS Italy Romania Spain Turkey MINIMUM RESULT ON USE OF ENGLISH B, C, E, F 2015 Use of English is the part of the test where the Turkish students got the highest percentage of minimum results (54%), followed by the Spanish students (39%) in 2013. These figures have improved in both countries (45% in Turkey and 21% in Spain that obtains the same results as Italy in 2015). Romania has obtained excellent results in that part and none of the Romanian students got low marks in those exercises (having decreased from 16% in 2013 to 0% in 2015). As we highlighted in the previous report, these results show that adult students are generally familiar with these types of exercises and they manage to solve tasks at A2 level. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 53 of 55
  • 54. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 After comparing results from 2013 to those from 2015 we see a significant improvement in English communicative competences in the four schools that have been working in the project. This is what stats show. Of course, not only the project has had a positive impact on the teaching/learning process in our schools but there are other factors that have to be taken into account: 2015 test was carried out at the end of the school year, while 2013 test was carried out at the beginning of school year; most of the students who sat for the test in 2015 where different from those who sat for it in 2013 (having the latter finished their studies in June 2014); and so on. These are things to be considered when assessing the results and cannot be ignored when drawing conclusions. Even though, it doesn’t underestimate the value that the project has had for the four institutions. On the one hand, carrying out these tests, made us aware of our own weaknesses and, as well, comparing our results with those from all the partner institutions helped us to figure out where we are and what must be improved. Talking about it with colleagues that have, or don’t have, the same problems helped us to enrich our resources and learn from different types of teaching, from different systems of education, and so on. On the other hand, the new materials have tried to cope with the weaknesses we found in our students and as well in the materials we used so far and having the chance to use them in the classrooms has helped the teachers to deal with these weaknesses. The materials we designed and used are thought specifically for adult students, the topics we chose tried to deal with the interests we have observed our students have and they focus on English as language of communication in Europe and not only as the language of the UK or USA, as most of published materials do. This latter fact helps to raise the consciousness of European citizenship. There are, as well, many no-stats tokens that have to be taken into consideration, as well. But these we mean the self-confidence that the students who have had the chance to speak in English with foreign people have gained, the motivation to learn English that rocketed in nearly all the students that have had the chance to participate in mobilities, the awareness of the importance that English as a language of communication among European citizens has, etc. PE-MC-EAE Pag. 54 of 55
  • 55. FINAL REPORT ON THE INITIAL TEST -2- ******** June 2015 REPORT AUTHORS Monica ANDREI Liceul Tehnologic de Servicii "Sfantul Apostol Andrei" Maurizio BONATESTA Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni" Yolanda CABRÉ SANS Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanés i Dalmau Alessandra GATTESCHI Istituto Statale d'Istruzione Superiore "Buonarroti - Fossombroni" Rafael GUINOVART BELLMUNT, Centre de Formació d'Adults Josepa Massanés i Dalmau Nazan GÜVEN İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi Yildiz SALIH İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi Kezban Sevda YIYIT İnönü Teknik ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi PE-MC-EAE Pag. 55 of 55