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Strategy to Assess L2 Interactional Competence of University Students: Ukrainian Context

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Changing Language Assessment

Abstract

This chapter reconsiders the accepted views on interactional competence and suggests the strategy to assess it. Developed to meet practical requirements of the classroom practice and formative assessment, this strategy rests on the case study method that provides an opportunity to create an advantageous testing context which enables assessing interactional skills by looking at the techniques the students apply to accomplish the communication goal. The results of the research that involved training of master students majoring in Language Studies (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv) and Science (National Technical University of Ukraine) allow us to conclude that the suggested strategy is an effective alternative way of assessment that assists students in transferring their skills from the classroom to real-life interaction.

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Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olesia Liubashenko .

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Appendices

Appendices

Appendix 1: Targeting of Learning English

Orientation (according to questionnaire items)

Frequency

Total

Percent

Total %

Interactional

KNU

101

KPI

153

254

KNU

88.6

KPI

93.3

91.4

Educational

KNU

81

KPI

113

194

KNU

71.1

KPI

68.9

69.8

Instrumental

KNU

73

KPI

142

215

KNU

64.0

KPI

85.6

77.3

Appendix 2: Case Study 1

Title

Interaction in the process of L2 learning (KNU)

Description

Discussing the changes in the curricular with the school headmaster and colleagues

Preconditions

The existing curriculum has been analysed, the changes have been introduced

Primary actor

A teacher of English in high specialist school

Additional actors

The school headmaster, a colleague, who is against introducing changes to the curriculum

Trigger

The school administration and some colleagues do not support any changes in the curriculum of English

Special requirement (Tasks)

Using 3 types of communicative interaction: Face-to-face communication; Voice Calling or Video Calling; Instant messaging

Extension

A teacher needs to gain support of parents

Main success scenario

You need to define the flow of the process that starts when a use case is started. The flow needs to detail how the communication will flow, who the information will be displayed to, what they need to do

Post conditions

The teacher got approval of the curriculum changes after a long discussion process

Alternative

Document alternate flow and exceptions to the main success scenario

Appendix 3: Case Study 2

Title

Interaction in the process of L2 learning

Description

Successful registration of authorship and receiving the patent of invention

Preconditions

An application for patent is written; the description of the invention is presented

Primary actor

A Sociology and Law student of Polytechnical University who helps his group-mate (client) to register the invention patent

Additional actors

Patent attorney, inventor-friend and colleague who failed to receive a patent

Trigger

Ukrainian Intellectual Property Institute (Ukrpatent) rejected the patent registration

Special requirements

(Tasks)

Using 3 types of communicative interaction:

Face-to-face communication; Voice Calling or Video Calling; Instant messaging

Extension

The patent should be registered within 10 days

Main success scenario

You need to define the flow of the process that starts when a use case is started. The flow needs to detail how the communication will flow, who the information will be displayed to, what they need to do

Post conditions

The inventor (client) receives the patent in time, although he is not satisfied with law literacy provided by the University

Alternative

Document alternate flow and exceptions to the main success scenario

Appendix 4: Teachers’ Feedback

Answer the following questions

1.

Do you tend to assess students’ interactional skills during formative assessment?

2.

Has the case study method influenced the strategy of interactional skills assessment? If yes, in what way?

3.

What difficulties do you come across while assessing the interactional skills?

4.

What criteria do you usually rely on when assessing the interactional competence?

5.

How do you ensure the assessment reliability?

Appendix 5: Student’s Feedback

 

Provide feedback on

 

Frequency

1.

Motivation for case study learning

Negative

22

Positive

58

2.

Assessment of interpersonal communication skills

Negative

11

Positive

69

3.

Assessment of interaction skills

Negative

26

Positive

54

4.

Assessment of co-participation skills

Negative

6

Positive

74

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Liubashenko, O., Kavytska, T. (2020). Strategy to Assess L2 Interactional Competence of University Students: Ukrainian Context. In: Hidri, S. (eds) Changing Language Assessment. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42269-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42269-1_11

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