Bridging the Gap Between Teaching and Testing

Abstract

Teaching and testing are classroom practices, which all English Language teachers engage in. The latter usually follows the former. Classroom tests are constructed and conducted by the classroom teachers themselves and hence, they are familiar with language testing. However, a lot of misunderstanding occurs regarding principles and objectives of assessment, particularly of public examinations. Many teachers feel that these examinations do not test what has been taught in the classroom.

This article thus examines the discrepancies between teaching and testing in the field of English as a second language and suggests ways of reducing or eliminating these discrepancies. It looks at aspects of testing which reflect those of teaching, and examines the common elements involved in both teaching and testing. The discrepancies that exist between what is taught in the classroom and what is examined at the end of the school term are highlighted. It also looks at test items, taken from past year papers of public examinations and explains the existence of the gap between teaching and testing and how this can be bridged. In conclusion, recommendations are to enable teachers to teach without experiencing the constraints of testing, yet fulfilling the test requirements. Ideas on how to make testing pleasant and enjoyable for both teachers and learners are also suggested.