To improve language teachers’ competency in evaluating their students’ learning, the Centre plans to publish a booklet of language learning evaluation model for five languages, i.e. Arabic, Chinese, German, Indonesia Language for Foreign Learners (ILFL) and Japanese. The evaluation model refers to standard of Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages that puts high emphasis on communicative competencies.

 The Centre has developed scripts of learning evaluation model for five languages in a workshop held in 2014. The scripts are useful for language teachers since they provide models consisting of several variant tests that can be used to evaluate students’ language competencies. However, prior to its publication, the scripts still need to be finalized. Thus, on 7—11 June 2016, the Centre conducted Workshop on Sanctioning of Language Learning Evaluation Scripts Model 2016 at Aston Priority Simatupang Hotel.SEAMEO QITEP in Language (Centre) conducted a Workshop on Sanctioning of Language Learning Evaluation Scripts Model on 7-10 June 2016 in Aston Priority Simatupang Hotel, Jakarta.

Dr Felicia Nuradi Utorodewo, the resource persons and all material developers pose together.

To ensure that the scripts are reviewed and revised thoroughly before being finalized, the Centre invited experts from every language specialization, namely: Prof Dr Nurul Murtadho (Arabic) from Malang State University, Dr Felicia Nuradi Utorodewo (ILFL) from SEAMEO QITEP in Language, Ms Nining Warningsih (German) from Indonesia Education University as well as Ms Hatmi Idris (Chinese) and Ms Lea Santiar (Japanese) from University of Indonesia. Furthermore, to make the workshop more interesting, the Centre invited Heru Widiatmo PhD (University of Iowa, USA), an international education expert, to enlighten participants with evaluation that will lead students to acquire Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS).

During the workshop, participants, consisting of well experienced language teachers and lecturers, were divided into five groups based on their language specialization. The resource person, then, guided the groups to edit and revise the scripts. Later on, every group presented their works to gain feedbacks useful for the script improvement. In the end, every group finalized their language evaluation model scripts in form of contextual assessment in accordance to CEFR standard.

There were three common characteristics that can be found in the evaluation model scripts. First, each model was arranged based on its difficulty from the easier to the harder. Second, the instruments of evaluation aim to evaluate four language skills as follows: reading, writing, listening and speaking represented in many variations of questions. For examples, matching questions, choosing true or false statements, role-plays, interviews, and replying an email form. Third, the model of evaluations were communicative and contextual. Thus, the questions represented the common situation how the language used in daily live.

The participants work in language group to revise language evaluation model scripts.

The workshop was successful and received good comments from the participants. One participant, Ms Yuyun Rosliah, MPd from Semarang State University, stated that she was truly delighted to join the workshop since it has provided her the opportunities to develop her skills in revising and editing scripts. Another positive comment came from Ms Neneng Nurbaningsih from SMA Sumbangsih, Jakarta, who mentioned that the information on HOTS is very interesting and useful because teachers need to teach students not only about the subject but also critical thinking skills.