12 types of task for speaking tests

12 Types of Task for Speaking Tests

David HutchinsonHoseo University

Email: hutchinson@hoseo.edu Website: david-hutchinson.ca

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washbac

kReliabilit

y

Measures of a good test

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washbac

kReliabilit

y

A paper-based speaking test …

Test Validity

Speaking Test

Name: ________

A: Hi, I’m Frank.B: ___________A: Nice to meet you. So where are you

from?B: ___________. ____________?A: I’m from Saskatchewan. Have you

been here long?B: ____________. A: So what’s your major?B: ________________.

spontaneous interactive creative

Features of authentic speech

Construct Validity Content Validity Concurrent Validity Face Validity Predictive Validity Authenticity

Types of Validity

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washback

Reliability

Measures of a good test

Measures of a good test

Validity

Positive Washbac

kReliability

Measures of a good test

Using pictorial input: sample questions:

What Sam do on the weekend? What are Sam’s plans for the

weekend? What does Sam usually do on the

weekend?

#1: Questions & Answers

3 ways to add variation to the task:

1. Questions with blanks2. Follow-up questions3. Pictorial Input

#1: Questions & Answers

What’s your favorite ______?

#2: Preference with Choices

Ballroom dancing club Skydiving club Pets club

Ping pong club Stargazing club Guitar club

What club would you like to join? Why?

What class do you want to take? Where do you want to visit? What gift will you give to mom for

her birthday?

#2: Preference with Choices

$20 $300 $120 $60

What elective class would you like to take?

日本語 Japanese Breakdancing History of Rock Music

Photography Computer Graphic Design Stocks & Investment

#2: Preference with Choices

Where would you like to visit?

#2: Preference with Choices

Canada Egypt Moscow

Hawaii Rome Sydney

More Ideas:

Who would you like as a friend? Where would you like to live? Which summer job would you get? What would you like to buy? What business would you open?

#2: Preference with Choices

#3: Information GapVacations

Name Place How long Activity FoodMark 10 days steakSuji Japan sightseeingAnna 1 month crepesJinho Vietnam biking Pho

Name Place How long Activity FoodMark Australia scuba

divingSuji 3 weeks sushiAnna France visit

galleriesJinho 5 days pho

#3: Information Gap

Mark JohnsonDistrict Manager

Office: Cell: (905)380-2817

Email:

Alice

MaryBill

Maud

George

Bob

Name Phone Number

Email

Jack Spratt010-3421-7387

Emily Moon010-2424-3888

Minwoo Goh

suji.kim34737@naver.com

What does he / she look like?

#4: Picture Description

#5: Interactive TasksMenu

Salad• Garden salad…….……5.00• Greek salad……….…..7.00• Caesar salad……….….9.00

Soup• Potato leek soup .……6.50• French onion soup….7.50• Vegetable soup……….5.00

Sides• French Fries ……………….5.00• Baked potato ………………4.00• Fried vegetables ………….4.50

Main Course(all main courses come with a choice of salad or soup)

• Steak with onions…………..27.00• Cornish game hen………….25.00• Lobster …………………………33.00• Pizza …………………….....18.00• Spaghetti Bolognese..….15.00• Teriyaki chicken………..21.00

Drinks

Soft drinks……………………….3.00Juice………………………………..5.00Bottled water …………………..2.00

#5: Interactive TasksMonday Tuesday Wednesda

yThursday Friday

9:00 English class

Lab English class

English class

10:30

Lab Physics Lab Physics

12:00

Lab

1:30 Math class Chemistry Math class Chemistry3:00 Club

meeting

#6: Storytelling

#6: StorytellingAugust 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

France

The Louvre museum

By the Seine River …

#7: Data Description

Food; $250

Bus; $100 Books; $50

Entertainment, $100

Clothing; $150

George’s Budget

2008 2009 2010 20110

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

XYZ Shoe Company Sales

Running shoesHiking ShoesDress shoes

Year

Sale

s in

mill

ions

#7: Data Description

#7: Data Description budget charts sales charts weather charts floor plans scientific diagrams

#8: ComparisonsSeoul

• Population: 9,700,000 • Traffic ●●●●●• Crime ●●●• Pollution ●●●●• Shopping ●●●●●• Entertainment ●●●●

Jeonju

• Population: 650,000• Traffic ●●• Crime ●• Pollution ●• Shopping ●●• Entertainment ●●

I really want to become a professional boxer. I love fighting, and nothing makes me more satisfied than beating my opponent and seeing him lying on the ground. I think I’m a natural born boxer! Nobody can beat me! However, my parents don’t agree with me. They say that boxing is dangerous. They say it’s a waste of my abilities. They want me to go to university to study! I hate studying. What should I do?

#9: Giving Advice

#9: Giving Advice

I’ve got a terrible runny nose, I’ve

been sneezing all day and I’ve got

an awful headache!

#10: Giving Instructions

#10: Giving Instructions

The university has some money to develop facilities on campus. What change should they make?

#11: Expressing Opinions

I think they should build a bigger library, and buy more books!

They should put in tennis courts and

plant more trees and flowers.

More situations:

#11: Expressing Opinions

Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of …

living in the country smart phones going to university staying in the dormitory

#12: Advantages & Disadvantages

In Summary…I. Question & AnswerII. Preference w/

ChoiceIII.Information GapIV. Picture DescriptionV. Interactive TasksVI. Storytelling

VII.Data DescriptionVIII.ComparisonsIX. Giving AdviceX. Giving InstructionsXI. Expressing

OpinionsXII.Advantages &

Disadvantages

David Hutchinsonemail: hutchinson@hoseo.eduwebsite: david-hutchinson.ca

Contacting me

Sample CurriculumChapter

Topic Vocabulary Grammar Speaking Activities

1. InterestsMovie / music genresFeeling words

like / dislike, want-ing/-ed adjectives

Talking about interestsExpressing feelings

2. Life eventsLife milestonesCelebrations, events

Past simple: Q&AQuestionsTell life storyAsk about people’s lives

3. Lifestyles Exercise / health Frequency wordsDiscuss routinesDiscuss healthWarnings / suggestions

4. Vacations Places to goTravel activities Future

Agreeing / disagreeingAnswering whyPlanning a vacation

5. Cities Places in the cityAdjectives

there is / areLocatives

Describe placesTalk about hometownRate / discuss cities around the world

6. Experiences Sports & activities Present perfect

QuestionsCompare experiencesTalk about hobbies