Innovative Approaches in Mandarin Language - Essay Example

In oral examinations, teachers ask verbal questions to the students which they need to answer orally. Ellis-Christensen (n.d.) states, “The oral exam is a long held tradition in many schools and disciplines, which poses questions to students in spoken form”. The advantages of oral examinations for teachers include assessment of students’ level of confidence, quick assessment of students’ learning, and assessment of verbal communication skills.2.3 Task-Based ApproachTeachers can also use task-based approach (TBLT) as a creative way to teach Mandarin to students.

In this approach, various tasks are given to the students in order to use the target language being taught to them. “Assessment and evaluation is not just based on accuracy and correctness of language forms” (Downing & Locke 2002). The assessment of students’ learning is based on the outcomes of those tasks that are given to students for the purpose of judgment. “TBLT starts from the notion that the learners learn by engaging in tasks” (Branden, Gorp & Verhelst 2007).

This approach takes into account the requirement for an authentic communication. Based on the results of the outcomes, the teachers become able to analyze and improve their teaching approach if needed. Giving project assignments is another way to judge the language learning skills of students as students need to complete those projects in the new language. Teachers can give assignments to students that they need to solve without getting any sort of assistance from the teachers.