Initial ESOL assessment for English My Way teacher booklet

Instructions
1. Introduction
The main aim of the Initial Assessment is to determine whether the English My Way programme is suitable
for the candidate. The programme is intended for very low level learners, learners who have little or no
proficiency in English and who have little or no familiarity with Roman script1. The assessment will also
identify learners whose level of English is above that of the intended target group.
Such learners should be steered towards an Entry Level Skills for Life programme rather than English My
Way.
A secondary aim of the assessment is to obtain some initial diagnostic information which can help the tutor
to design the right interventions for each learner. The initial assessment will deliver a provisional skills
profile, which will be completed during weeks 1 to 3 of the programme. ..

2. Administration
The assessment consists of five sections.
Speaking and Listening
Vocabulary
Speaking
Reading
Literacy and Writing
The first three sections will take the form of a one-to-one interview between a tutor and the candidate. The
tutor records marks on the assessment booklet. The candidate does not need to read or write anything in
these sections.
The last two sections of the assessment are completed by the candidate. It is recommended that they do
this in the presence of the teacher as a continuation of the one-to-one interview. This will enable the
teacher to take note of any relevant aspect of the candidates behaviour (for example how they hold a pen)
and to provide support. However, a centre can choose to administer these sections in a group session if
necessary.
Although activities are designed to produce numerical scores they should be administered in an informal
and non-threatening environment. If at any point it becomes clear that a candidate is unable or unwilling to
complete a part of the assessment then they should not be required to continue; this in itself may be a
valid indication that they should probably be admitted to the programme. If available, a native speaker
volunteer may be called on to explain instructions to candidates in order to ensure that they understand
what is expected of them.
In addition to evaluating and scoring candidates responses, the teacher administering the assessment
should take the opportunity to notice and record any aspect of their behaviour which might be relevant to
the outcome of the assessment. Suggestions as to what these aspects might be re given in the instructions
for the respective sections.
Learners can have a 'spiky' profile i.e. good at listening, but poor in other skills. If tutors follow the score
interpretation procedure, this will allow him/ her to decide whether a learner is suitable for English My
Way on completion of the initial assessment process.
1

the standard alphabet used for writing English

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Scoring
Each section is provided with a mark scheme which enables the teacher to award numerical scores. The
scores awarded in each section are allocated to six skill scores. For this purpose Speaking and Listening are
treated as separate skills. Literacy (which is to be understood here as facility in the use of Roman script)
although obviously linked to reading and writing ability, is scored separately.

Speaking

Listening

Vocabulary

Reading

Literacy

Writing

3. Score interpretation
It is expected that a learner for whom the English My Way programme is suitable will not be able to score
above 50% in any of the five sections of the assessment. However, individual skill profiles vary, and to allow
for this the following principles should be applied.
Learners should be considered for admission to the programme who:

Are obviously unable to complete any part of the assessment on account of their low level of
communication skills, or

Score less than 50% in every section of the assessment (considered separately).

Learners should not be admitted to the programme who:

Score more than 50% in the assessment overall, or

Score more than 50% in Speaking and Listening combined, or

Score more than 50% in Reading and Writing combined.

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Listening & Speaking

After welcoming and settling the candidate, ask the questions below. Record a score between 0 and 2 in
each box according to the following scale:
Listening:

2 = understands the question (responds promptly)

1 = understands the question with support
0 = doesnt understand the question

Speaking

2 = responds appropriately and correctly

1 = responds appropriately
0 =response is inappropriate or unintelligible, or no response

After asking Question 10 give the candidate a chance to speak freely. Award scores for the follow-up
questions if they give this information without prompting. Otherwise, ask the follow-up questions (and
award scores accordingly).
Literacy:

2 = uses or recognises letter names correctly

1 =uses or recognises letter names with some mispronunciation or inaccuracy
0 = not able to use or recognise letter names
Listening Speaking Literacy

What's your name?

How do you spell your name?

What's your phone number?

Where do you come from?

Where do you live?

Can you spell [place name*]?

How long have you lived there?

Who else lives there?

Do you live in a house or a flat?

10

Tell me something about your house/flat.

How many rooms does it have?
Have you got a TV?
Are there any shops near your house/flat?
Listening Speaking Literacy
Totals

/20

/20

/4

*substitute a very familiar (to the candidate) place name such as the current location (e.g. Bolton), or one they have
given in answer to question 5 (e.g. Hounslow).
English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Vocabulary
If possible, use real objects; otherwise use the pictures in the candidate booklet. Point to each object or
picture and ask Whats this? Accept any intelligible answer that fits the object, e.g coat or jacket;
computer or laptop. Award one mark for each valid answer.

Whats this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

and this?

Total ____/10

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Speaking
Show the candidate the picture (in the candidate booklet) and say:
Please tell me what you can see in this picture.
Allow the candidate to speak freely. Ask the follow-up questions only if they do not mention these points
without prompting.

Follow-up questions.
How many people can you see?
What are they doing?
Where are they?
What is the weather like?
What is s/he [point to a figure] wearing?
Where do you think they are going?
Assessment criteria:
4 marks
Describes the main features of the scene (people, what they are doing, location,
weather) clearly, using complete sentences and some connection with and.
Provides some detail e.g. clothing, relative position of people. Is able to speculate
(e.g. with maybe) about who the people are or where they are going.
3 marks
Describes the main features of the scene intelligibly using complete sentences and
some connection with and.
2 marks
Describes the main features of the scene using some complete sentences. Mostly
intelligible.
1 mark
Describes some features of the scene using isolated phrases. Requires some effort
of interpretation on behalf of the listener.
0 marks
Not able to give an intelligible account of any aspect of the scene.

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Reading
The aim of this task is not to test the recognition of signs, but the ability to read the corresponding texts.
The signs themselves should be widely recognised or self-explanatory, however if the candidate does have
appear to have difficulty interpreting the signs, record this and check if they are able to read any of the
texts aloud.
Also, observe and record if the candidate:
Follows the text with a finger while reading
Deciphers individual words letter by letter
Reads aloud (without being prompted) or mouths words silently.
Read the sentences and match them with the signs, as in the example.

Example

Traffic lights ahead.

No smoking.

No dogs allowed.

Now wash your hands.

Please switch off your mobile phone.

Please put your rubbish in the bin provided.

Please dont bring food or drink into the

library.

The speed limit on this road is sixty miles per

hour

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

Writing
If possible observe the candidate while they complete tasks 1 and 2 note how comfortable they are with:
Holding a pen
Writing from left to right
Writing cursively.

1. The alphabet
Write the missing letters.

A B C D _ F _ H I J
a b c _ e f g h _ j

K _ M
k l m

N O P Q _ S T U V W X _ Z
_ o _ q r s _ u v w x y z
2. Please complete this form:

Name: __________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________

________________________________________

Phone number: __________________________________

Country of origin: ________________________________

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14

3. About you
Now please write five sentences about yourself. You can write about your family, your home, the things
that you like doing, your work, your country.
1. ________________________________________________________________________

2.

_______________________________________________________________________

3.

_______________________________________________________________________

4.

_______________________________________________________________________

5.

_______________________________________________________________________

Assessment criteria
1. The alphabet
Award one mark for each well-formed letter. The total (out of ten) is included in the literacy score.
2. Form-filling
Award one mark for each legible and well-formed item (e.g. for a workable postal address). The total out of
four is included in the writing score.
3. About you
For each item award
two marks for a well-formed sentence
one mark for an intelligible but ill-formed or incomplete sentence
zero for an illegible or otherwise unintelligible response
The total out of ten is included in the writing score.

English My Way initial assessment Teacher v2 28-3-14