Oral language testing at tay nguyen university  (Page 15/53)

Underhill (1987) classifies oral tests/test tasks into four main types: (1) the direct interview type, (2) the pre-arranged information gap tests, (3) tests where the learner prepares in advance, and (4) mechanical/entirely predictable tests. Each type requires some specific techniques to elicit test takers’ language performance named elicitation techniques. The four following sub-sections respectively summarize these four oral test types in combination with the involved elicitation techniques

2.4.2.1 the direct interview type

The direct interview is the most common and authentic type of oral test; there is no script and no preparation on the test taker’s part. The assessor or interviewer, of course, has quite a careful preparation, but not so rigid as to control exactly what the test taker says. This may result in difficulty in assessing the test performance consistently and reliably. (Underhill, 1987, p. 31)

The assessors should be flexible in choosing suitable and feasible techniques to well elicit the task of this type in a specific testing situation. The most common elicitation techniques used in this case are discussion/conversation, interview, form-filling and question and answer.

Discussion/conversation is associated with interaction between two or more people in which the assessor should create the right atmosphere in a very short time so that the test taker can respond to it. The topics discussed and the directions taken by the conversation are the result of this interaction. (Underhill, 1987, p. 45)

Interview, to some extent, is quite similar to discussion/conversation, but an interview is structured. That is to say, the assessor or interviewer maintains firm control and keeps the initiative; whatever the test taker says is in more or less response to the interviewer’s questions or statements. (Underhill, 1987, p. 54-56)

Form-filling is a technique in which the test taker and interviewer work together to fill in a form or questionaire. The questions is usually related to the test taker’s personal details, professional situation or language needs. Question and answer refers to a set of disconnected questions raised by the tester. The questions are graded according to difficulty to elicit the test taker’s opinions on certain topics. This technique may involve using different question types, giving cues for question formation, and naming. (Underhill, 1987, p. 58-59)

2.4.2.2 the pre-arranged information gap tests

In such tests, an information gap between two test takers, or between a test taker and the assessor, is deliberately created by the test designer. The test taker’s success and speed in bridging that gap are taken as an indication of his oral proficiency. (Underhill, 1987, p. 32)

The elicitation techniques proposed for this type of oral test are learner-learner description and re-creation, picture story and role-play.

Learner-learner description and re-creation technique requires one test taker to describe a design or construction of model building materials to another test taker who has to reconstruct the model from the description alone, without seeing the original. The technique consists of reporting description to partner, map-reading, and comparing models. (Underhill, 1987, p. 56-58)