3 Simple, Easy ESL Conversation Exam Ideas
There’s no denying that conversation exams are the most basic and most common of all ESL Oral Exams. But what are the best ways to give an exam? How do you make sure they run smoothly? Here are three variations of conversation exams that I do!
Prepared Conversations
In this exam, students prepare their conversations before they come to class. You could assign a topic, or they could choose one for themselves. You could also assign partners or let them choose their own exam partner. To be honest, I almost never use this exam because it’s far too easy for students to “borrow” other team’s conversations instead of creating their own, and because it doesn’t give the most accurate representation of a student’s true ability.
Pros:
The fastest exam to give because students don’t have in-class prep time.
It’s tempting for students to memorize the conversation, turning it into a recitation.
Cons:
Easy for students to cheat instead of creating their own work,
Doesn’t show a student’s true, on-the-spot ability.
Quick-Prep Conversations
This version of conversation exams is my favorite! It combines the pros of prepared and impromptu conversations, but it DOES NOT work without my secret weapon (dice). Read about how I use dice in my exams here: https://www.atlasteaching.com/classroom/secretweaponforeslexams You’ll also need a deck of cards.
Step 1: Have students partner up and roll the dice to determine their topic.
Step 2: Have students draw a card to determine their exam order. I just use a deck of poker cards. If students draw a 2, they are the second group to present. If they draw a 10, they’re the tenth group.
Step 3: Give students a pre-determined amount of time to prepare.
Step 4: Call the first group outside for the exam.
Step 5: When that team finishes, they go back inside and the second team comes out.
Pros:
The most organized way to do a conversation exam
Students feel the exam is fair since it’s literally the luck of the draw that determines everything.
As a teacher, you don’t have to go in and out of the classroom, giving you more time for grading clearly.
Cons:
Students who present later do have a few extra minutes of prep time. (To combat this, sometimes I divide the class in half, and assign exam topics during the first half and second half of class.)
Impromptu Conversations
Step 1: Write students’ names (or numbers, so you can use them again in multiple classes) on pieces of paper.
Step 2: Draw two papers at random. These two students will now be partners.
Step 3: Give the students a pre-determined amount of time to prepare. (I usually do 2 minutes.)
Step 4: After students have prepared, draw two new names.
Step 5: While the first group is presenting their exam, the second team is preparing. (I match the prep time to the required conversation time. If they have to speak for 2 minutes, then their prep time is 2 minutes. If they have to speak for 5 minutes, then the prep time is 5 minutes.
The key is to draw two new names before hearing the previous team’s presentation.
Pros:
Great for classes who need a challenge or a push
Easy to see students’ true abilities since they don’t have much time to prepare
Cons:
Some students will balk at working with someone they don’t know.
Requires a lot of back and forth work for the teacher
General Tips:
I always do conversation exams outside in the hallway or in a quieter corner of the room. The noise in class, from students waiting to give their exam or students preparing an exam, is just too loud. It will be hard for you to hear the students, and all the noise will make it harder for students to concentrate on their exam.
If you can, send students home after they’ve finished. I used to not do this, and it just created a more chaotic environment. Unless your students are focused and disciplined enough to work quietly on other things, they’re bound to talk or goof around. (I usually teach lower-level students who don’t even want to come to class in the first place.) And if you’re outside the classroom doing exams, it could get out-of-hand. I’ve also found getting to leave early increases the motivation for students to get the job done faster and better.
I love having conversation exams, since it can help students learn how to prepare for various speaking situations in which they’re not sure what topics will be discussed. For example, when meeting foreign clients, they could be prepared to talk about the weather, food, hobbies, or politics. In a real-life interaction, you’re not sure what could come up. It helps steer clear of matching/ true-false exams and puts the emphasis on actually using English.
This is the second in a four-part series about ESL Oral English Exams!
If you’d like to check out the previous post, read that here: https://www.atlasteaching.com/classroom/5simpleoralenglishexams