[etni] [FWD: Celebrating Critique and the Modules]

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 -------- Original Message --------
 Subject: Celebrating Critique and the Modules
 From: "hyat@canaan" <hyat@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
 
 Shalom Etnians,
 
 Despite all the discussion and the criticism going on here, one issue
 has become very clear.  The new Bagrut represents not a lowering but a
 raising of the standards by which English has recently been tested. 
 Besides Andrew Wilson's well expressed comments ("English vs.
 Intellligence"), I also think the new format tests language and grammer
 use more accurately.  There was always an arbitrary level to the cloze.
  An excellent student might get stuck--a mental block--and not find the
 appropriate word, even though he or she perfectly understands the
 language and train of thought of the cloze.  Very likely this same
 student could, by using more than "one word" complete a correct
 sentence expressing that thought.  S/he very well might be able to
 write on a higher level than the student who is good at finding the
 correct word on clozes.  I found that several of my native speakers,
 who express themselves very well in writing, still did worse on the
 cloze than their non-native counterparts (whose writing was not at all
 on their level).  
  
 Thus the format which allows students to write, but which marks them
 off for grammar and spelling (5 pts.) errors is both a more accurate
 means of assessment and more demanding.  As teachers we can only help
 our students to succeed by using process writing, so that each student
 can focus on his or her individual difficulties of expression.
 
 Yes, there were problems with this exam.  The D and E were not fair. 
 Doing three in one day, especially at the end of the day was too much. 
  But these problems always arrive and re-evaluation or re-adjustment on
 the side of the Ministry is normal.  Nobody here is complaining.  We're
 just doing our job to keep each other on our toes.
 
 -David

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