CRITICAL REVIEW OF FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING PROGRAMS IN SINDH

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to explore the merits and demerits of a formative assessment technique used in an English language learning program in Sindh. The teachers teaching the English language to the students of rural Sindh in an English language program implemented a formative assessment technique and in the end, shared their views about the effectiveness of the program. Methodology: The research is based on a qualitative method. Formative assessment was conducted in a language teaching program in rural Sindh. At the end of the program, 6 male and 12 female teachers, who were selected on purposive sampling method, participated in a focused group interview to share their views about the merits and demerits of the formative assessment technique. The data was analyzed using content and thematic analysis. Main Findings: The merits of the formative assessment technique used were reported as helpful in identifying the learning gaps, providing constructive feedback, identifying the students’ strengths, empowering the teachers, and creating a stress-free assessment. Similarly, the demerits were reported as being time-consuming, unconventional assessment strategies, and creating a lack of professional development to adopting a new strategy. Applications of this study: Many language teachers regularly implement formative assessment in their language classrooms and are always in search of some good material to make their formative assessment more fruitful and result-oriented. This study will be useful for such teachers. They can benefit from the findings of the study and improvise their method of formative assessment. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is one of its kinds using the teachers’ perspectives to explore the effectiveness of drawbacks of formative assessment technique. People who have recently joined the teaching fraternity must be inquisitive about various techniques of assessment. This study is going to assist them in not only deciding whether they want to implement formative assessment in class, but it will also prepare them in advance to encounter the limitations of formative assessment and take necessary measures to address these limitations.