Synthesis Paper AB

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                             112010072

“SYNTHESIS of Reading Response Journal A-B”

I have 2 articles which connect about assessment that gave to the student based on language testing and for the student and the teacher development when they study together. Both of articles have given much information and make me know that when the teacher give assessment or grade to the student is really difficult. The reason is consider ability of the students however the teacher has to fair and justify when give the assessment for their student.

Now, I will talk about First article which entitled “I didn’t get the grade I need. Where’s my solicitor”. The article discuss about Language testing in the United States and the United Kingdom. Both of the country has the different ways in give the technical standard of EFL testing, especially in U.S. The article mentions that specifically concern about testing English as a foreign language. The article told that Many U.K. based examining boards offer tests in EFL/ESL to international students, and some of these are “high stakes” tests in that entry to a college or university course may depend upon the results. Companies and organizations also frequently use external tests, provided by examining boards, as screening instruments for appointments or promotions. The question which gave in this article is: if a candidate for a British examination were to get a grade which was lower than required, which resulted in his/her being denied access to higher education, a job position or promotion, on what grounds could he/she take the examining board to court? As such, this article is particularly concerned with testing English as a foreign language as practiced in the U.K., although testing related legal issues in the U.S. is discussed. There is no attempt to provide a comprehensive description of litigation on either side of the Atlantic. Rather cases have been selected for discussion on the basis of how well they represent the type of concerns which are relevant to language testing. I think the article good and interesting to read even give the detail information inside about language testing in the both of country.

The second article is entitled “Using Habermas to Evaluate Two Approaches to Negotiated Assessment”. The article discuss about  the extent to which two courses, both aimed at staff in higher education, succeed in meeting the ideals of adult education as outlined by writers deriving their outlook from Habermas and his theory of communicative action. In particular, the article examines the rationale for two different processes of negotiated assessment, how they operate in practice and what staff and students think about the processes. An attempt will be made to assess the extent to which, through the practices of negotiated assessment, the Habermassian ideal is approached. The article also criticize about Habermas’s theory tells that learning and teaching have been strongly influenced by phenomenographic and psychological theories. There is expert that argued about theory of Habermas. He is Popper or Foucault which used to examine the assumptions underpinning the two courses under discussion, but he has chosen Habermas because of the strong influence his theories have had on the course team and their practices. Furthermore, it has been argued that “Habermas’s work is of central importance for critical educational theory and practice”. I think the second article is good and give much advantage for me to know about learning and teaching based on phenomenograpchic and psychological theories and teaching use communication action ways.

Both of articles have different focuses and purposes. The first article is focusing on Language testing in the United States and the United Kingdom. Then, the second article is focusing on the extent to which two courses, both aimed at staff in higher education, succeed in meeting the ideals of adult education as outlined by writers deriving their outlook from Habermas and his theory of communicative action. Although have different purposes and focuses, these two articles still have relationship in how to give assessment or grade to the student correctly. First, Language testing is very important; because I think that it can make the people practice their language in order to they can use their language correctly when they talk to each other. Otherwise, the United States and the United Kingdom do examining language testing for EFL/ESL to international student. It is very useful to practice their ability in language testing. Second, the rationale for two different processes of negotiated assessment also important, because in my mind, it can train development of the student through learning and teaching approach. Both of approaches are very good and useful for the participant or student. The students feel comfort when they are approaching with their teacher. I think the students won’t feel embarrassed and nervous if they’re being close to with their teacher. The learning situation also being comfortable and make the student more focus to the lesson. It can increase the student’s competence in learning process.

Talk to first article entitled “I didn’t get the grade I need. Where’s my solicitor”, Although the current move towards the production of “standards” and the publication of a limited number of research projects sponsored by British examination boards, I argued with Alderson and Buck that the answer necessarily lies with bringing EFL testing within government control. Rather, a number of successful legal challenges to test results which cannot be justified would do much to force examination boards to rapidly improve their products and their performance. I think that only when (most) examination boards in the U.K. face the threat of litigation, as is the case in the U.S., it will begin to conduct the appropriate research, follow necessary procedures, and publish all statistics which external observers need to assess the reliability, validity and fairness of their tests. Unfortunately, the first article is too crucial and only some parts discuss about language testing in the U.S and the U.K

Although the second article talk too much about Habermas’s Theory contain evaluate two approaches to negotiated assessment, it also important to read, because it can help the student get much information about how to approach with their teacher in order to can be succeed in teaching learning activity. In Indonesia teacher is not tend to the method like approaches to negotiated assessment. They just teach based on formal situation of the school regulations. Overall, both articles are good and interesting, but I think the second article is more interesting than first article. Both articles are useful to the EFL students and EFL teacher.

Reading Response Journal B

Akhmad Farroby

112010072

Using Habermas to Evaluate Two

Approaches to Negotiated Assessment

READING RESPONSE JOURNAL B

          I have chosen the article about negotiated assessment as second reading response journal. I think the article is interesting to me because the content inside that useful for the student and the teacher development when they study together, discuss the lesson, something like that. After I read and see discussion so far about Habermas’s Theory tells that learning and teaching have been strongly influenced by phenomenographic and psychological theories. Specifically, the discussion of the article focus on students’ experience of learning through a categorization of qualitatively different ‘approaches to learning’ and have emphasized the need to encourage ‘deep learning’ by treating students as participators in the learning process. I think that purposed to the student encourage when they gain learning from their tutor or teacher in learning process.
           The article said that the extent to which two courses, both aimed at staff in higher education, succeed in meeting the ideals of adult education as outlined by writers deriving their outlook from Habermas and his theory of communicative action. In particular, the paper will examine the rationale for two different processes of negotiated assessment, how they operate in practice and what staff and students think about the processes. It means that teaching learning activity between the teacher and the student can do communicative action in order to learning process to be better. The other purpose is in order to between the student and the teacher can be closer in learning process and make the student feel comfort with the situation. 
           The article explain that negotiated assessment provide requirement that need to make the student be succeed in their achievement. The teacher or tutor should give their best experience based on subject, department, and good commitment in professional context. There are several philosophers that agree theory of Habermas, because his theory has strong effect that make communication between the student and the teacher be cohesive and it can make action oriented to reaching understanding and action oriented to success.
            I agree with the statement because it is profitable to the student to reach their achievement. I argued that the statement of Habermas about A communicatively achieved agreement has a rational basis; it cannot be imposed by either party, whether instrumentally through intervention in the situation directly or strategically through influencing the decisions of opponents. In my mind, it can negative effect to the student that has low competence. For example, when several students are do teaching learning activity, if there is a student cannot understand about the lesson, perhaps the student afraid to ask to their teacher about the lesson that they aren’t clear. It makes miscommunication to their teacher and the student acquire disadvantage.  In this article, the course said that our working model of the future professional is of a reflective practitioner working increasingly with reflective clients and engaged in dialogue with a critical community of professional peers. Our working hypothesis is that this model is best achieved through critical reflection on and critical analysis of one’s own professional experience and current practice, in order to formulate proposals for improved practice, the outcomes of which serve for further reflection and analysis in a continuing cycle of learning. So, the working system suggests that the tutor gain reflective practitioner in order to them can improve their performance when they teach the student. Besides that, about the working hypothesis ask to the teacher or tutor gain critical reflection that them aware their mistake when they are learning and access the student, they also consider and determine the appropriate grade based on each student ability. Finally, I think the article negotiated assessment has some benefit when the teacher gives the appropriate assessment and see justify in assess every student.

Reading Response Journal A

Akhmad Farroby

112010072

“READING RESPONSE JOURNAL A”

            Mostly the article contain about standard in language testing. I choose the topic because inside those articles discuss language testing in The United States and The United Kingdom. Both of the country has the different ways in give the technical standard of EFL testing, especially in U.S. The article mentions that specifically concern about testing English as a foreign language. According to one of an expert (Alderson), declare that “Standard” only particularly in United States not United Kingdom. I agree with the statement of an expert, because I think that in U.K maybe the program is informal and the program just use as guide test developers. While the article report that the situation is in U.S distinguish between Black and White students. In my mind, I argue about the case, because actually the different skin color can cause controversy and it can be negative effect. The program should consider the necessity of each student for Black and White student also make them feel comfort when they are give the standard system in language testing. I think U.S should not to distinguish both of black and white when they practice to learn language testing.

The system should identify the situation in order to the situation better and make the student has share learning goal.  In the Abermarle Paper versus Moody (1975) a test was declared invalid for a particular purpose because it was not designed to the standards laid down by American Educational Research Association (AERA) in the APA Guidelines.  I think if the test invalid The American Educational Research Association (AERA) do the right decision because invalid test give student disadvantage and make the student confused to do the test.

 The largest EFL/ESL testing organization in the United Kingdom, commits itself to certain standards. These are provided fewer than 4 headings: developing examinations, interpreting, examination results, striving for fairness, and informing examination takers. I agree with the strategies because it can make the student aware their mistake and them also developing their ability about language testing. The situation leaves British examination boards open to litigation. Although the history of litigation in the U.K. over the use and interpretation of test scores is not as great as that in the U.S., the precedents which do exist are important. The U.K. legal framework for the use of tests in the U.K. has come about indirectly via anti-discrimination legislation introduced by the European Community via the European Community Council Directive 761207 on Equal Treatment. Indeed, the quality about score that made in the U.K is better than U.S, because the U.K considers the grade and gives to fairly as a proof that the achievement of the student has been fulfill the requirement. I think it is the good article because it provides much information that support developing our knowledge about language testing or assessment from The United States and The United Kingdom.

The information is clear but the language is high level. Sometimes, when I read the article, there are so many statements from the expert. I conclude that the United Kingdom has authority based on give the high score fairly and not distinguish between (Black and White the student) so the country has high justice in consider the skin color. A number of successful legal challenges to test results which cannot be justified would do much to force examination boards to rapidly improve their products and their performance. I mean, the purpose is good, because it can make the student increase their academic performance so they realize the mistake that they make and can correct it after they get the improvement.

Annotated text

My criticize

                                                                                                                                     AKHMAD FARROBY

112010072

My Criticize about the case above:

The news above tells that most of the teachers resign of some schools. They are threatened by secessionist and rebel. I think some the teacher depressed about the case. They don’t want the thing happened. In Indonesia, the best quality of the teacher is limit. Moreover, the teacher is who teach in village or mountainous. Most of them have minimum human resources. This article tells about lack of qualified teacher in Irian Jaya. In this island, most of the student has lack of knowledge because the lack amount of teacher and the located far away from central city. Those article also mention that more than 100 teachers who escape from mountainous regency. It makes some schools are closed and some students have to study in their own home. 

It can make the students reluctant to study and become the bad effect for them. Besides that, in Irian has a slightly inadequate facility, so the teacher who came from the other region wouldn’t visit in the island. In my mind, the government of Irian should raise a fund to build some schools in many regions in the island. In the other side, the government should also increases the number of teacher from other island and gives them the adequate facility. The purpose is making the student encourage studying well and they also get the qualified teacher and make good environment teaching learning activity. The news mentions that there is an institute co-operate with Cendrawasih University in Jayapura in order to produce 200 elementary school teachers in two places.

 I agree with the thing because it make number of teacher teach increasing and make the student can get more knowledge, but the teachers who came from another island have more good qualities. However, the student must more focus and study well in order to each of student that couldn’t read becomes to be able to read after the teacher come to the island. I hope that after the recruitment of teacher to teach make the students feel comfort and can more focus to improve their reading skills. As we know that most of people must can read and write. It is the basic ability of everyone. The last, I hope that the government can realize about the case happening in the island.

The author is Elieser Renmaur, he is assisten I sekda Papua province. He wrote some news related to Papua condition in Jakarta Post. I think his writing is understandable.

Summary of the text

The news tells about lack of qualified teacher in Irian Jaya. The local teacher training institute has failed to produce qualified teachers. It's not because the teachers, but the students' difficulties to be taught. They don't feel comfort that the condition isn't good to them to teach the students. The reason is that the students of the island have weaknesses in reading skill. Reading is very important because if we can't read, the people will fool us. It can be disadvantage for the island.

The regency established the institute in 1999 after migrant teachers fled the regency in the early 1990s when they were threatened by secessionist activists and rebels.  The institute, which offers a two-year course on elementary school teaching, was set up in cooperation with the Jayapura-based Cendrawasih University as part of a crash program that is expected to produce 200 elementary school teachers in two batches. So, there is an institute that co-operate with Cendrawasih University to input 200 elementary school teachers become two places. the purpose is in order to make some places to some teachers that will teach there. It can make a good progressive to Irian Jaya.

Puncak Jaya regent Elieser Renmaur told Antara news agency that the institute was established to compensate for more than 100 teachers who fled the mountainous regency. The author will add 100 teachers of the institute in many region in Irian Jaya. Perhaps, it can be advantage for Irian Jaya, because the teachers that come from many region have good qualified.