ORAL COMMUNICAtIVE ASSESSMENT: ARE WE DOING IT RIGHT?

Abstract

This paper attempts to discuss the important features that are essential for assessing students' oral communicative performance. The subjects for this study were from the YG 0923 course, a second level Life Science course meant for the Faculty of Science and Technology students at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. They either have to take this course in their second semester of the first year or the first semester of the second year at university.

The study was conducted throughout the smester for the academic session 1999/2000. It focused on four major components: criterion-referenced presentation, forum, case study and interview. This paper will first look at the aspect of fluency and competent communication in the assessment of ora performance. Next, the important techniques that have been used by the teachers to prepare students for the assessment as a means of evaluating second langauge competency in a science-based English class will be outlined. Lastly, suggestions and recommendations on how the oral performance assessment can help to upgrade the quality of students' oral communication skills and factors that contribute to the success of the implementation of the test will be presented.