Knowledge about Language and Testing
DATA ANALYSIS
The Use of KAL in Classroom Testing
The data on the use of KAL in testing showed a much different picture from the use of KAL in teaching. The questionnaire item, “...Do you incorporate what you know about language in the testing process? ” produced both positive and negative responses. Forty percent of the teachers claimed they did use KAL when assessing students, while 20% claimed they did not. The other 40% of the sample did not answer this question.
Those interviewees who did not respond to this item were asked to explain why they gave no response. Six of the eight teachers gave one or more of the following responses:
1. I did not know what to write
2. I never really thought about it so I preferred not to respond
3. I wasn’t sure what I should write
4. There wasn’t enough time to really think about it, I had to go to class
The other two teachers seemed reluctant to give reasons for their non-response. It is not likely that they did not understand the question as the same type of question was asked regarding the application of KAL to the teaching process. Both items required the teachers to explain how KAL is utilized in the process. All teachers responded appropriately to the item on the teaching process. In order to provide evidence of KAL use in testing. All 12 teachers who gave a positive response said that they pay attention to the testing of oral skills and use process writing.
