EAP teachers’ assessment literacy: From theory to practice

Abstract

This study explored the extent to which English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teachers were assessment literate, their beliefs about assessment, their actual classroom assessment practices, and the reasons behind the possible mismatches. Data were collected through Assessment Literacy Survey (Mertler, 2003), semi-structured interviews, classroom observation checklists, and the field notes obtained from a sample of 27 language and 23 content teachers of e.g., engineering, basic sciences, medical sciences, etc., out of whom 28 participated in the process of interviews and observations. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively in this sequential explanatory mixed-methods study. The findings indicated that only a few EAP teachers were assessment literate and that field of study, university degree, and assessment training courses were statistically significant predictors of EAP teachers’ assessment literacy. Inconsistencies between assessment beliefs and assessment practices were found across both groups of teachers for which numerous reasons were noted by the participants. Implications for EAP teachers themselves and EAP teacher education programs are discussed.