Language Educators

This message has been cross posted to the following eGroups: Language Educators and Undergraduate Educators .
-------------------------------------------
I am going to be teaching Spanish Conversation for the first time next spring and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing some sample rubrics? I am trying to come up with a good form that I can adapt for each of my projects. I appreciate any suggestions anyone has to offer. Thanks!



-------------------------------------------
Amos Kasperek
-------------------------------------------

When designing rubrics for conversation, I find it important to focus on what really counts to develop interpersonal communication skills.  The new ACTFL Performance Descriptors provide helpful descriptions of criteria to use when designing a conversational rubric, such as use of a variety of communication strategies, precision of vocabulary, or specific language functions.  The Performance Descriptors may be downloaded at:  http://www.actfl.org/publications/guidelines-and-manuals/actfl-performance-descriptors-language-learners

A very useful format from Greta Murray (French teacher, Medford, WI) is to identify the ends of a continuum and then rate the overall pattern of a language learner's performance as most consistently at the "move from" end, most consistently a mix, or most consistently at the "move to" end.  Examples of the continua to move from the novice into intermediate range of performance are:

Move from:	Making Progress	Move to:
Asks random questions		Follows up with logical questions
Only answers the question asked		Contributes additional information
Responds, but rarely initiates		Contributes personal insights to enhance discussion and draw in others
Comments are not relevant		Stays on topic

-------------------------------------------
Paul Sandrock
ACTFL Director of Education
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 12-15-2012 15:12
From: Amos Kasperek
Subject: Conversation Course

This message has been cross posted to the following eGroups: Language Educators and Undergraduate Educators .
-------------------------------------------
I am going to be teaching Spanish Conversation for the first time next spring and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing some sample rubrics? I am trying to come up with a good form that I can adapt for each of my projects. I appreciate any suggestions anyone has to offer. Thanks!



-------------------------------------------
Amos Kasperek
-------------------------------------------

If you have not chosen a text for your Conversation course in Spanish, I would highly recommend A mi manera , Spanish for Proficiency  ( and I promise I do not get royalties, Ha).  The text is designed for the students to advance according to the ACTFL oral proficiency standards.  The components are  good solid vocabulary, advancement in functional skills, interactive exercises, grammar review.  All is based on very contemporary themes.  As professors we have to create and/or assemble so much for each of our classes, it is a real joy to find a text that has been so well constructed.  Most of our students are performing at AM after finishing this course using this text.  A hearty applause is directed to the authors Laughlin, Spicer-Escalante and Hamlyn. 


-------------------------------------------
Ava Conley
-------------------------------------------






Show Original Message -------------------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 12-15-2012 15:12
From: Amos Kasperek
Subject: Conversation Course

This message has been cross posted to the following eGroups: Language Educators and Undergraduate Educators .
-------------------------------------------
I am going to be teaching Spanish Conversation for the first time next spring and was wondering if anyone would mind sharing some sample rubrics? I am trying to come up with a good form that I can adapt for each of my projects. I appreciate any suggestions anyone has to offer. Thanks!



-------------------------------------------
Amos Kasperek
-------------------------------------------