Introduction to Evaluation

     Evaluation is mainly about making decisions of instructions in order to improve and enhance the teaching and learning of a second language.  Some types of decisions that can be found  are: decisions about the placement of individual students in particular streams, levels, or courses of instruction; about planning new units of instructions; about ongoing instruction; about textbooks; objectives and plans among others.   In order to make good decisions in evaluation, some important components are presented which are: purpose of evaluation, collecting information, interpretation of the information and decision making.

     In Second Language Evaluation we can also find some kind of participants such as Parents, noninstructional educational professionals, students themselves and teachers.  It is important to say that teachers, more than anyone else, are involved in evaluation due to the fact that they can provide activities in order to help students develop and asses their own progress and  take part of the decision making, collaboration and consultation not only with parents of learners but also with specialists and even school principals.

     Other factors can also be important in the Evaluation process such as the student learning style and strategies, their work habits, their behavior in class, their attitude towards school or themselves and their goals related to the second language learning process.