Modern languages teachers have hit out at Scotland’s exam body over its decision not to assess students’ ability to speak the language they are learning as part of the Advanced Higher qualification this year.
In the most recent guidance produced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, published last week, modern languages teachers have been told that, at Advanced Higher level, they are to base their teacher-estimated grades on reading, translation, listening and writing, but not on their students’ ability to speak the language.
Modern languages teachers who spoke to Tes Scotland described the move as a “dumbing down” of the qualification, arguing that the key skill for a linguist to acquire is the ability to communicate.
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A modern languages teacher, who did not wish to be named, said: “The skill that develops most at Advanced Higher is the talking, and that is the most critical aspect for a linguist: communication and talking to a free level, not relying on prescribed questions and answers, but an open conversation between assessor and student.
SQA exam cancellations: ‘Dumbing down’ modern languages
“It’s a fantastic part of the course - removing that is really dumbing down the whole thing.”
The teachers also pointed out that the removal of the speaking element will likely disadvantage students taking the qualification this year even further, given that they tend to get better marks for the speaking element.
This was particularly true for students who did not speak English as their first language, they said, putting these students at an even greater disadvantage.
In normal times, the modern languages Advanced Higher written exam, which covers reading and translation, and listening and discursive writing, accounts for 60 per cent of the grade; the portfolio, which has already been scrapped this year to give more time for teaching and learning, accounts for 15 per cent; and the talking element accounts for 25 per cent.
This year - with the portfolio and speaking elements removed - teachers have been told to make their estimates based solely on what is usually covered in the written exam - although the guidance states that teachers “may wish to give your candidates the opportunity to undertake a performance - talking” and submit it as supplementary evidence.
However, the guidance goes on to say that, given the removal of the portfolio and the “performance talking from the Advanced Higher Modern Languages course assessment in session 2020-21...these components must not be included in the calculation of the provisional result.”
Tes Scotland understands the decision to cancel the speaking assessment has come because of the move to online learning and the inability of visiting assessors to carry out the test in school.
However, teachers question why they cannot be trusted to assess their students’ skills in this area.
Fhiona Mackay, the director of Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, SCiLT, said she sympathised with teachers, given that speaking is such a key skill, but she added that the SQA was in an impossible situation. She said if it had asked teachers to carry out the assessments, that would have placed an additional burden on their shoulders.
She urged teachers to continue to develop their studentss’ talking skills even though they would not be assessed.
Talking remains a component of the Higher modern languages assessment this year but at Higher level the assessment is usually carried out by the teacher or lecturer, whereas at Advanced Higher level an external assessor carries out the assessment.
