Oral Testing Procedures

• Have students select a partner (one group of three is fine) several weeks in advance.  The earlier they select a partner, the sooner they may begin speaking French together to prepare.



• Distribute a list of role-plays (provided by your course chair) at least one week before the oral exam. Students may use these to practice. Be sure to provide 10-12 potential role-play topics. The goal is to have students practice, but not write and memorize the role-plays.



• Schedule interviews 10-15 minutes apart.  Instructors must initiate closure to keep on schedule.  Use your own classroom on the dates specified.  Let the Language Program Director or course chair know if you need time outside of class.  Course chairs will schedule empty classrooms in the afternoon.



• Let students know that they owe it to their partners to be present and on time.



• Read carefully the guidelines for scoring questions and role-plays.



• Make one copy of the grade sheet per student.



• Let students know that you will begin by asking each student five questions which only require one-sentence answers.  These will be questions taken from the Partie Auditive section of chapter quizzes.  Each student draws 5 questions at random.  This section of the oral exam tests preparation, listening comprehension, and accuracy.



• The second section is a spontaneous role-play, based on role-plays from the textbook.  Students will draw a role-play at random, determine their roles, and begin.  This section of the exam tests proficiency.  Expect students to make more mistakes in the role-plays than in the Q/A section of the exam.



• Grade on the spot.  Jot down notes on the score sheet as students speak, but above all show that you are listening.  You may wish to tape the oral exams as back up.



• Do not return score sheets to individual students until all students have been tested.



• If one partner does not show up, the student present should go ahead with the oral exam.  A student waiting for his/her exam may welcome the change to warm up by role-playing with the student you need to test.  If necessary, you may act as partner in the role-play.