This is from Diane Neubauer:
Hi Ben,
I thought this rubric might help other teachers find a way to give a required speaking grade if they have to do that in their buildings. My students knew they did not need the “top” rating on a question to get an A on this rubric. Ex: Chinese 1 & 2 could tell me they’re in the Silent Period, and several of them really are. I had pre-filled out a rubric for each level of Chinese with a range of what I felt was level-appropriate, and compared that to what the student selected. I made notes if I disagreed. Sort of following an Interpersonal Communication Skills Rubric (jGR) grading process.
So feel free to share it with the PLC. I hope others will make suggestions on it… could be improved.
Here is the rubric:
Speaking Self-Evaluation
Answer honestly based on your habits related to speaking Chinese. A good score is not so much based on high achievement as on progress and effort across the semester. You may check more than one answer.
1. Responding to comprehension questions in class. Check which of these you do on a regular basis:
Show response silently.
Indicate when meaning is unclear.
One-word answers.
Phrase and short sentences.
Sentences (or more).
2. Adding my ideas to discussion in class. Check which of these you do on a regular basis:
Generally wait for others to contribute.
Suggest ideas, but often in English.
Suggest ideas, using some Chinese.
Suggest ideas using almost only Chinese.
3. Out of class use of Chinese. Check which of these you do on a regular basis:
Have taught someone else some Chinese (family, friends).
Listen to songs so I can sing along, or find other ways to speak in Chinese outside of class.
Greet or talk with classmates and/or teacher in Chinese outside of class.
Talk in Chinese with Chinese people I meet.
4. Retells of in-class stories and material. Check which of these you can do:
I can retell what happened using English.
I can retell in some Chinese, some English.
I can retell in Chinese, but it’s choppy.
I can retell in fairly clear Chinese.
5. Pronunciation. Check which of these best represents your spoken Chinese at this point:
Hard to understand my Chinese because of pronunciation difficulties.
Occasionally my pronunciation hinders communication.
I am understood easily by sympathetic speakers of Chinese (such as my teacher).
I am/would be understood easily by Chinese with whom I have spoken.
6. Communication. Check which of these best represents your spoken Chinese at this point:
I think I am in the Silent Period: not yet able to produce spoken language without a lot of stress.
I find it challenging to put together words to express myself, but get general ideas across when I speak.
I need time to think through what I want to say, but get ideas across clearly enough.
I feel pretty comfortable speaking Chinese and can get my ideas across clearly.
I find myself thinking in Chinese at times and express myself confidently, with only occasional errors that don’t hinder communication.