Oral tests could be dropped from language GCSEs because they are "too stressful", according to a report.
Oral tests could be dropped from language GCSEs because they are "too stressful", according to a report.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority could adopt a recommendation to rely on teacher assessments instead, reports the Sunday Telegraph.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority could adopt a recommendation to rely on teacher assessments instead, reports the Sunday Telegraph.
The QCA would not confirm the story, but said its report next week would follow the line of last year's review of language teaching by Lord Dearing.
The QCA said its report next week would follow the line of a previous review which concluded one-off oral tests were not a reliable guide to ability.
The review said one-off oral tests were not a reliable guide to ability.
A former chief inspector of schools has condemned the idea as "stupid".
Chris Woodhead said the idea of abolishing oral tests was "predictable" and "stupid".
'Watering down'
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove told the Sunday Telegraph: "After being told they could get a pass without writing a word in a foreign language, now pupils are being told they can pass without speaking it.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove told the Sunday Telegraph: "After being told they could get a pass without writing a word in a foreign language, now pupils are being told they can pass without speaking it.
It's another example of removing from our examination system anything that students find stressful or too demanding Chris Woodhead, former chief inspector of schools
"Once again, this government is moving the goalposts on examinations and instead of proper rigour we have got a watering down of standards."
"Once again, this government is moving the goalposts on examinations and instead of proper rigour we have got a watering down of standards."
'Unreliable test'
While the QCA would not confirm the story, it said its report would concur with last year's review of language teaching by Lord Dearing.
Mr Woodhead said: "It's predictable because it's another example of the current fashion for removing from our examination system anything that students... find stressful, don't like, or find too demanding.
"And it's stupid because if one is wanting to know if someone has mastered a foreign language in any context, then clearly the student has got to be able to speak that language in any context."
It is interesting that when people spoke about the oral test, that however long ago it may have been, it is often remembered as a stressful experience Lord Dearing
He said continuous assessment was "completely unrealistic" and not necessarily fair as one teacher's evaluation could differ from another's.
Lord Dearing's report affirmed the importance of speaking and listening in language GCSEs and recommended these skills should make up half of the marks.
Lord Dearing's report affirmed the importance of speaking and listening in language GCSEs and recommended these skills should make up half of the marks.
Stress risk
But he warned that the stress of oral exams might deter young people from signing up to take languages.
But he warned that the stress of oral exams might deter young people from signing up to take languages.
"It is interesting that when people spoke about the oral test, that however long ago it may have been, it is often remembered as a stressful experience," he wrote.
"It is interesting that when people spoke about the oral test, that however long ago it may have been, it is often remembered as a stressful experience," he wrote.
"We therefore proposed that these parts of the examination should be over a period through moderated teacher assessment."
"We therefore proposed that these parts of the examination should be over a period through moderated teacher assessment."
Lord Dearing emphasised that any change should not weaken the "validity of the assessment".
Lord Dearing emphasised that any change should not weaken the "validity of the assessment".
But he said: "That has to be balanced against the risk that a test that is often highly stressful and over a short period, whilst accurate in its awards against performance on the day, is not a reliable test of the candidates' capability."
But he said: "That has to be balanced against the risk that a test that is often highly stressful and over a short period, whilst accurate in its awards against performance on the day, is not a reliable test of the candidates' capability."
The report was accepted by the then-Education Secretary Alan Johnson in March 2007.
The report was accepted by the then-Education Secretary Alan Johnson in March 2007.
A sharp fall in students taking language GCSEs had prompted the review.
A sharp fall in students taking language GCSEs had prompted the review.
The drop came after the government ended compulsory modern languages up to the age of 16 in 2004.
The drop came after the government ended compulsory modern languages up to the age of 16 in 2004.
Here are a selection of your comments on this story
What a ridiculous proposal. Having sat a number of language exams in my time, I can agree that the oral is 'stressful' (isn't life itself 'stressful'?), but having ongoing assessments by staff members, paid by a school trying to maintain its place in a league table, may not be the most objective or effective way of testing student's oral ability.Paul Whitehead, Brighton
So, having removed competitiveness, we must now remove stress from children's lives. We are not talking about 4 year olds, but teenagers about to enter the world of work. What on earth is the point of learning a language without a speaking test. Teacher assessment is subject to enormous pressures and, speaking as an external moderator, I can say often wildly inaccurate.Phil, Bourne UK
I am studying French, and I agree the orals are stressful. During my prep time in my mock, I was placed in a classroom full of loud children. I'd been predicted an A* for my mock and ended up with an F. Every single person in my class dropped at least 3 grades. They're not a true reflection of talent: a native French speaker got a C. I rest my case.Rafanna J, Cambridge, England
The exams need to be revisited. I took A level french as a "mature student" last year. Yes the oral was stressful, but it just about the most important part of the course. I did French to communicate! However, the exam and course does need revisiting, I had to spend far too long trying to remember facts about Albert Camus works - time that would have been better spent trying to remember conjugations.John Marshall, Swindon
I have recently taken my GSCE French course and I didn't find the oral too difficult. The only reason the oral exam is stressful is because pupils fail to prepare for it. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.Tom Coleman, Stowmarket, England
As someone who studied French up to university level (graduating last year), I think that oral exams are stressful. But then so are most exams! Yes, a one-off 5-10 minutes of speaking is not an accurate reflection of years of study, but nor is a 1-3 hour written exam, in any subject! Considering you can get coursework for written work, maybe there should be some form of oral coursework, and/or multiple oral tests so that you get used to them - plus each one wouldn't count for as much, thus reducing the pressure. The 'moderated teacher' assessment may be a form of this, I suppose.James Connolly, London, England
Again a situation where we are going mad! Exams are stressful whether oral or written. Life is stressful and the earlier children are exposed to what life is about the better they will be able to cope when in the real world. I have now moved to Dubai because, quite frankly, this is another case of the downfall of Britain! When is someone going to sort this country out and bring common sense back into the equation.Andrew R, Tonbridge, Kent
As a linguist, ex teacher and lecturer in modern languages and as an active user of foreign languages, as well as a retired teacher trainer, I can say that the ultimate goal of language teaching is to produce people with the ability to communicate with the speakers of the foreign language. Tests that do not take this fundamental aim into account do not test language ability; they amount to a deception or a cover up of weaknesses. It would be similar to testing mathemetical achievements without testing the understanding and use of numbers.Mr. J.Lemagnen, Derby
Are you teaching or studying a language? Do you think the oral exams should be dropped because they are too stressful? Are teacher assessments a better measurement of a child's ability? Send us your comments using the form below
Are you teaching or studying a language? Do you think the oral exams should be dropped because they are too stressful? Are teacher assessments a better measurement of a child's ability? Send us your comments using the form below
