Teaching... outside the comfort zone!!

When I was at school, as far as I remember I can tell there was probably not assessment at all. There were no projects, portfolios, lack of positive feedback, or any other way of assessment. The truth is that assessment is a term not very known by Colombian teachers. Teachers in public schools just come to class, teach the topic (though some of them even skip this part), make us present a bunch of quizzes, schedule standardized summative examinations, and that’s it. This is how they determine if we pass or not. Actually, tests still work as a way to differentiate the “good students” or the “intelligent students” from “the other students”. But, are they taking each student as a particular person with different skills and different ways to learn? There is not fairness at the time of testing students.

Teaching, in general, should be more critical. Assessment procedures help “to make decisions and judgments about the teaching-learning process” (Lopez & Bernal). Thus, assessment procedures work, not only to keep track of the students’ performance and improvement, but also to evaluate and reflect our teaching effectiveness. From Lopez and Bernal’s study it might be concluded that teachers need to have more preparation in assessment, so that they can change their perceptions about it, and also put it into practice in their classes. I think most of us have this clear thanks to this career and Assessment & Evaluation in ELT subject but, will we put all of this into practice? How will we apply all this concepts, especially when we go to the real teaching practice which is not English institutes, but public/private schools?

A few days ago I was watching an Asian drama about bullying at schools, among students and also among colleagues. One of the characters that called my attention was one of the teachers, who was determined to fight against bullying. Directors of the school wanted to keep in secret that bullying issue because it would affect the school’s reputation. Even when directors and other teachers were bullying her due to her actions, she followed her perceptions until the end. As expected, she got unfairly fired. Nevertheless, when she gets to teach at a new school, she keeps her fight against bullying. I believe this is the kind of teachers that are almost extinct, who are willing to protect and follow their beliefs until the last/worst effects.

I know this has nothing to do with assessment, but I just wanted to share my thoughts regarding that drama because it made me think about our true power as teachers. Regarding assessment, in an English institute it might be easier to make your voice heard and propose new was of assessing the students, especially because the directors believe the institute will have all the benefits. But, is it that easy in a public/private school? I don’t think so… 

* This post is about Lopez & Bernal (2009): Language Testing In Colombia: A Call For More Teacher Education And Teacher Training In Language Assessment.

** Image retrieved from http://www.paulcheksblog.com/real-education/