Authentic assessment tools for the writing skills development to EFL intermediate students

Abstract

The current investigation has been executed from the time a low proficiency in the writing skill was presented by intermediate students from the Diocesan Community Zone 3, which is compounded of Catholic University of Ambato and The Seminary Mayor Cristo Sacerdote. After the research was carried out through surveys done to teachers and students, it was effectively demonstrated the affirmation of the hypothesis. It was clearly observed that the outcome of the deficient aptitude in the writing skill was due to the lack of the application of authentic assessment since the traditional and monotonous strategies had been employed in the classroom. Consequently, the proposal stablished to improve the writing skill through the application of innovative and engaging strategies based on authentic assessment was highly accepted by the authorities, teachers and students; showing a great deal of interest in the proposal. Before the strategies were applied, scholars took a pre-test based on the international KET (Key English Test) exam and the results were analyzed, obtaining a fair product. After the strategies were implemented in the English classroom students were exposed to a post-test based on the same exam and there was a significantly improvement in the writing skill proficiency for intermediate students. From these results, the researcher concludes that the present research has been of a significant relevance for the Diocesan Community Zone three.