6 Prior to this study, the researcher conducted observation towards teachers five
elementary schools. The data revealed that the purpose of teachers’ assessment were to identify students’ strength and weaknesses and to gain data for the record book.
Assessment activities cover formative and summative test. Teachers’ observation applying norm-referenced is also one of the tools of assessment. This study aims to get a
vivid picture of assessment for young learners. The researcher would like to investigate how assessment carried out by English teachers at elementary school.
1.3 Research statement
This study focuses on how language assessment carried out by teachers in elementary school. The following questions will guide the study.
1. What are teachers’ understandings towards language assessment for young
learners a.
What is are the purposes of teachers’ assessment? b.
What aspects of language do teachers assess? c.
How would teachers give feedback? 2.
What techniques do teachers employ in assessing young learners? 3.
What are difficulties encountered by teachers during assessment process?
1.4 Aims of the study
The purpose of the study is to identify how teachers carried out assessment for young learners. The aims of this study will be elaborated as follow:
1. to identify teachers’ understanding towards assessment
2. to identify techniques employed by teachers in assessing young learners
3. to identify difficulties encountered by teachers during assessment process
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1.5 Clarification of terms
1. Assessment refers Assessment is a systematic process of making decision towards
particular matter. Related to language learning, the decision may concern students’ performance and ability, the degree of knowledge or skill.
2. Traditional assessment refers to pencil and paper assessment. In the process
students are assessed of what they know about the language 3.
Alternative assessment refers to the way of assessing take into account variation in students’ needs, interests and learning styles; and they attempt to integrate
assessment and learning activities
1.6 General approach to the study
. Relevant to the nature, the aims of the study and the statement of the problem
above, this study will employ a qualitative research design. As Wiersma cited in Sook 2003 said that “qualitative research investigates the complex phenomena experienced
by the participants by examining people’s words and actions in descriptive ways”. The aim of the study is to give a portrayal of how teachers carried out assessment
for young learners. Therefore this study employs descriptive method Jackson 1995. In general, the methodology of data collection in this study relied on questionnaires,
interviews and observations.
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1.7 Significance of the study
