Testing in CI classrooms is far more damaging than we think it is. It conflicts in the most serious manner with the real research about how people learn languages. We must work harder to take down this monster in our teaching.
The best thing is to focus on the good things that our students can do in our classrooms, to focus on building each one’s confidence, which testing never could, nor ever will be able to, do.
Testing is a source of evil in foreign language classes. There can be no good communication, which is the standard (!), when there is distance between teacher and students in a classroom, distance caused by testing, which is another word for judgement and focusing on what kids can’t do rather than focusing on what they can do.
Can we finally grow up in our schools on testing in CI classrooms and stand up to this monster? Or will we forever walk around in our buildings, spineless, allowing our administrators and misplaced district guidelines do the equivalent of recommending that our students drink bleach?