The assessment of self-access language learning: Practical challenges

The assessment of self-access language learning: Practical challenges

• Reinders, Hayo University of Hawai'i, Hawai'i, USA
• Lázaro, Noemí Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Madrid, Spain

Language Learning Journal, 36(1), 55-64, 2008

Routledge

2008

• S School Environment & Facilities, Organization
  • SB Laboratories & Special Rooms
• N Students & Student Services
  • NB Attendance & Drop-outs
• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GB English Language

Independent Study Personal Autonomy Foreign Countries Second Language Learning Second Language Instruction Role Student Evaluation Germany Hong Kong Spain Switzerland New Zealand

• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Spain
• Switzerland
• New Zealand

• 1997.7 onwards

• Unknown or Unspecified

Self-access centres are a popular type of language support offered by an increasing number of schools and universities around the world. Assessment of the learning that takes place in such centres is seen as both crucial and problematic. Many barriers to successful assessment appear to exist, but these have not been comprehensively documented, making it difficult to develop systematic solutions. This article presents the results of a study of 46 self-access centres in five countries (Germany, Hong Kong, Spain, Switzerland and New Zealand), investigating current assessment practice. In-depth strength-weakness analyses were conducted with the managers of each of the participating centres. These revealed a complex interaction between pedagogical and practical challenges to assessment. They also showed an emphasis on the developmental role of assessment for learner autonomy and the importance of assessing both language gains and learning skills.
[Copyright of Language Learning Journal is the property of Routledge. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09571730801988439]

• English

Journal Articles

• 09571736

• 10.1080/09571730801988439

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/en/bibs/bcfc62d5

2010-09-27