NeedsAssessmentCycle

LuanneZ.Gambrel
CUR/528
June27,2016
Mr.Burnett

NeedsAssessmentCycle

AsaForeignLanguageInstructorIhadtheopportunitytoobserveandteachdifferent
levelsofSpanishcoursesstartingfromlowbeginnerclasstothemoreadvancecourses.While
conductingobservationsinotherlanguageclassesInoticedthatsomeofmyfellowinstructors
wereinneedofmorealternativemethodsoflanguageinstructionlikeforexampleTotalPhysical
Response.Thismethoddonotfocusesonthegrammaticalsyllabus,inwhichwegavetoomuch
emphasisongrammarwefocusonteachingthelanguage.WhenusingTPR,theteacherprovides
inputforthestudentsandthenthestudentsphysicallyrespondtothedirectionsoftheteacher
(Danielson,C.andMcGreal,T.(2000).WiththeimplementationofTPRIhavewitnessthatthe
studentsbecamemoreenthusiasticandengagemorewithlearninglanguagethatthesemethod
contributedtoapositiveclassroomenvironmentandatthesametimethestudentsdisplayeda
greatattitudetowardstheirlanguagelearning.
Purpose
ThepurposefortheneedsassessmentistoensurethatForeignLanguageInstructorshave
the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to do their work effectively. In my personal
opiniontrainingisneededbecausethereisapotentialgapbetweentheinstructorselectionon
instructionalstrategies,andtheirskillorknowledge.TraininginTotalPhysicalResponsemay
resolvejustpartoftheproblemhopefullydevelopingthistypeoftrainingwewillbeableto
resolveit.Oneofthechallengesthatlanguageinstructorsconfrontonaeverydaysituationisthe
fact that they need to find effective ways to measure their student language acquisition.
Instructorshavetoevaluateandselectinstructionalmethodsandassessmentsthatsupporttheir
goals.Theassessmentcanhelpinstructorstomodifytheirinstructionalmethodsinadditionto

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whatthestudentsareabletodointhetargetlanguage. Thecorepurposeoftheneedsassessment
istoimprovethelanguageinstructorskills,andclassroompractices.Atthesametimepromoting
thestudentlearningimprovementwhilethelanguageinstructorscontinueassistingthestudents.
LevelofAssessment
Fortheneedsassessmentwearegoingtofocusonthedevelopmentofanindividual
assessment.Thistypeofassessmentwillfocusonthelanguageinstructorsinordertofindout
how they are performing when implementing Total Physical Response techniques to their
instruction.Thistypeofassessmentwillhelpdeterminetheinstructorexistingcompetenciesand
skills,takingintoconsiderationtheirlearningstyle.Theindividualanalysiswillidentifywhoin
theorganizationrequiresTotalPhysicalResponsetraining.Thistypeofevaluationisextremely
usefulasindividualassessmentsbecauseareabletoidentifytheinstructorsstrengthsandareas
forimprovementinregardsto,skillsandcompetencies.
Using data from the Language Instructors the assessment will help determined if TPR
training is needed as an instructional method. If by any reason the assessment reveals
deficiencies in the current training program, training can be designed to help the instructors meet
the performance standard.
Stakeholders
LanguageProgramManager willsupportthetrainingcapability developingforeign
languagetrainingmaterialsandcurricula.
Classroom Director: In charge of establish training requirements and classrooms
materials.WillassisttheLanguageProgramManagerinthemanagementoftheLanguage

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Programbyprovidingguidancetolanguageinstructorsandadminstaff.
Foreign Language Instructor: Will provide classroom instruction focusing in
conversational skills, as well as regional and culture subjects, relying on modern
communicativemethodology.
Budget
Inorderto ensureeffectivenessofthetrainingtobeimplementedneedsassessmenthastobe
conductedtocoveralltheForeignLanguageInstructorsfromourorganization.Theassessment
mayhaveacostuptoUS$20,000thisisdependingonthegeographiclocation,andconsidering
thefollowingitems:
PerDiemcostsfortrainersandparticipants
Transportationcosts(rentalvehiclesifnecessary)
Trainingcosts(materials;honorariafortrainers)
Photocopyingcostsforbriefingpackages,andfinalreport.
Weencourageallparticipatingorganizationstohelpincoveringthecosts,bypayingthecosts
(includingperdiem)fortheirstaffmembers.
AvailableResourcesforInstructors
The Organization is fully committed in making available different resources for the
LanguageInstructorsparticipatinginthetraining.Likeforexampleeachparticipantwillhave
access to Video Lab in which instructors can upload or download tutorial videos of

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implementing TPR in their classrooms. In addition, participants will be provided ongoing

trainingsessionsandworkshopsonaperiodicbasis.
Timeallottedfortheassessment
TheparticipantsinthiscaseForeignLanguageInstructorsmustcompletetheassessment
inoneday.Theassessmentwillbegiventotheinstructoratthebeginningoftheday8:00am
andtheywillhavetoturnitinattheendofthedayat5:00pm.Ifbyanyreasonaparticipant
wasntpresentthatdaytheorganizationhastheflexibilitytoallowhimorhertoanswerthe
assessmentduringthefollowingday.
Identifythespecificinformationyouneedtomeasureusingtheneedsassessment.
TheinformationthatIneedtheneedsassessmenttomeasureistodeterminethatifthe
LanguageinstructorshadanyprevioustraininginTotalPhysicalResponseandiftheythinkthey
can beneficiate from training like this. This assessment will looks at their past and current
knowledge,skills,andabilities,inTotalPhysicalResponse.Inadditionwillhelpdeterminethe
objectivesthatwewanttoaccomplishwiththetraining.Theseobjectiveswilldevelopacriterion
tomeasurestheeffectivenessofthetraining.
Theassessmentanalysiswillbeconductedbythelanguageprogrammanagerwhois
going to be to evaluate the staff and make recommendations for training based on the
performanceissuesandobjectiveswillconducttheassessmentanalysis.

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Determinewhetherinformationalreadyexistsorifinformationmustbeobtainedfrom
Resources.
A survey will be used in order to collect the necessary information. Since the
number of participants does not exceed 10 the survey is going to be provided in the
instructor not in the target language in this case Spanish is going to be developed in
English. The survey will find out the participants learning preferences and training
expectations (Appendix A). I also used this survey to find out the participants
exposure to Total Physical Response as a teaching methodology.

Conclusion
As an instructor that relies on Total Physical Response to teach language training I have
seen the importance for developing a training program that helps the students with their language
acquisition. Without the proper understanding of how to use this teaching method it can become
useful and at worst, useless. The end result of this training to lead the Instructor to an oriented
training program and better results from training.

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Appendix A
AdultEducationForeignLanguageAcquisition
InstructorNeedsAssessmentSurvey
FiscalYear20162017
Thisinformationisneededitinordertoreportprofessionaldevelopmentplanning.
Name:__________________________________________________
TeachingLocation:________________________________________________________
Email:____________________________________
Whatinstructionalleveldoyouteach?
_____LowBeginning
_____HighBeginning
_____LowIntermediate
_____HighIntermediate
_____Advanced
Howmanyinstructionalhoursperclass?____________________
Whatistheavailabletechnologyavailableinyourclassroom?
______________________________
Pleaseindicatehowmanycomputersareavailableforstudentsuse:
_______________________________________________________________________
DoyouhaveanySpecialCertificates:
_____________________________________________________
HowmanyyearsofexperienceteachingAdultsdoyouhave?______________________
Whatprofessionaldevelopmenttraininghaveyouattendedinthelastthreeyears?
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Whatlearningformatdoyoupreferforprofessionaldevelopmenttraining?Checkallthatapply.

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_____Largegroup_____Smallgroup_____Workshops_____Lecture
_____Other______________________________________________________________
HaveyouheardofTotalphysicalResponseasalanguageteachingmethodology?
Yes______No______Ifyes,where?________________________________
HaveyouappliedtoyourlanguagecoursesTotalPhysicalResponsemethodology?
Yes,________No,_______Ifyes,pleaseexplain
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
WouldyoubeneficiatewithTotalPhysicalResponse?
Yes______No________Ifnowhy?_______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
CanthestudentbeneficiateifTotalPhysicalResponseisappliedintheirclassroom?
Yes_____No,_____IfNowhy?_______________________
AnyComments:
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Thankyouforparticipatinginthissurvey.

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References
AmericanCouncilontheTeachingofForeignLanguages.(2003).ACTFLIntegrated
PerformanceAssessment,EileenGlisan,ed.Yonkers,NY:ACTFL
Danielson,C.andMcGreal,T.(2000).TeacherEvaluationtoEnhanceProfessionalPractice.
Alexandria,Va.:

AssociationforSupervisionandCurriculumDevelopment.

DarlingHammond,L.(2010).RecognizingandDevelopingEffectiveTeachers:WhatPolicy
Brief:PolicyMakers ShouldKnowandDo.Washington,D.C.:NationalAssociationof
EducationandAmerican

AssociationofCollegesforTeacherEvaluation.

NationalStandardsinForeignLanguageEducationProject.(2006,inpress).Standardsfor
ForeignLanguageLearninginthe21stCentury.Lawrence,KS:AllenPress.