The Easiest Way to Collect and Grade Speaking Assessments in World Language

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There are lots of effective ways to collect student audios for speaking tasks or assessments. However, I am sure many of you can relate when I say that I have had a lot of bad luck! First, there are the inevitable tech issues where a student’s voice memo doesn’t download, or won’t open. Then, there are the fancy recording programs that a district or school purchases, which are clunky and not often user-friendly. You can easily lose precious minutes of grading time opening, downloading, playing, and replaying student audios. Or, worse, you become invested in the program only to be told at the end of the school year that it will no longer be approved for funding. Argh! In order to avoid these issues, I have streamlined my process for collecting student audios for speaking tasks and assessments.

First, I either use Google Classroom assignment or Google Form to collect student work, because these are simple systems that I know will work, and I know I will have access to the assessments year after year.  

To avoid issues around downloading student audios in conflicting formats, I always  have students record their response on vocaroo or speakpipe. This way, there’s nothing to download, and the link is easily shareable.

Lastly, I always align my feedback to students to ACTFL standards. I’ll throw the rubric into a Google Doc, and type my feedback right into the document. Sometimes I’ll even record my own feedback on vocaroo/speakpipe and share the link with students.

What are your favorite tips and tricks for grading speaking assessments or practice with your students?

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