February 2008: Ministry presentation at the Vancouver Secondary Modern Languages ProD Day

Britta Gundersen-Bryden and her Ministry team presented at the VSB's ProD Day at Churchill.
Wendy Carr chaired the question period and provided the following background for the exchange:

1. Teachers have been giving feedback about the e-exam since the process began for Japanese 12 and, this year, for Spanish 12. (See letters and responses). Most recently in November and December, the BCATML conducted a survey to articulate teachers' concerns. It is clear that teachers welcome the inclusion of assessment of speaking and listening in the provincial exams but that many feel the present format does not reflect the way students are taught, i.e., a monologue sample rather than interactive sample.

2. Wendy Carr, Sandi Kostur, Brin McIntyre, and Wendy Yamazaki met with Britta Gundersen-Bryden and Elizabeth McAuley at the BCTF Bldg (with Anita Chapman) on January 9th. We brought forward the concerns articulated in the survey. Britta advised that the Ministry was open to and valued teacher feedback. She has provided the following examples of how changes in the e-exam process have already been made as a result of teacher feedback: time for administering the speaking/listening portions was increased from 2 weeks to 3 weeks; notification was sent to administrators with direction about the technology and administration requirements (including the fact that responsibility for invigilation should not automatically fall to the second language teacher); and full sample e-exams for Japanese and Spanish are now available on line.

3. An understanding was reached about the speaking assessment portion of the e-exam, the area of greatest concern among BC teachers. The BCATML, in accordance with the SATML (Surrey Association of Teachers of Modern Languages), has proposed that a model based on the Ministry's Oral Assessment resources -- piloted and endorsed by BC's modern language teachers -- act as the model upon which speaking may be assessed and evaluated.

4. A preliminary working meeting hosted by the BCATML and involving teachers of French, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish was held on Feb.1st in order to prepare a proposal to the Ministry. We hope to share a draft proposal with the Ministry and with BC teachers very soon and will actively seek and try to incorporate your suggestions.

5. Please note that no changes to this year's e-exam are possible as exam specs have already been established.

PLEASE STAY TUNED!