Speaking Tests in the Lower Secondary Foreign Language Classroom
Students’ Views on Usefulness, Anxiety, Preparation and Feedback
This study examines the views and wishes of lower secondary school students regarding speaking tests in the foreign language classroom. 254 students from French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland completed a written questionnaire on preparation, feedback, usefulness and stress during speaking tests in German as a foreign language. In addition, short interviews were conducted with 84 students directly after an oral exam. Their teachers (n = 7) were also asked about their practices and views. Around two thirds of learners consider various test formats (paired tests, individual tests, oral presentations) to be useful; they motivate this primarily with the importance of speaking itself. However, a majority of learners also find all test formats to be rather stressful, with the paired tests being seen as both the least stressful and the most useful format. It is notable that the teachers are more critical than the students when it comes to the usefulness of speaking tests. In regard to feedback, students prefer individual feedback that shows them how they can improve. However, the current feedback may not be directly actionable, and it remains unclear what exactly students (can) do with it.
Beiträge
Open Access
Open Access
Speaking Tests in the Lower Secondary Foreign Language Classroom
Students’ Views on Usefulness, Anxiety, Preparation and Feedback
Open Access
weitere Infos
Lüthi, Gabriela; Peyer, Elisabeth & Ravazzini, Nadia (2025). Speaking Tests in the Lower Secondary Foreign Language Classroom: Students' Views on Usefulness, Anxiety, Preparation and Feedback. Zeitschrift für Fremdsprachenforschung, 36(2), 49-68. Bielefeld: wbv Publikation. https://doi.org/10.3278/ZFF2502W003
Bibliografische Angaben
- Reihe: Zeitschrift für Fremdsprachenforschung
- Band: 36
- Auflage: 1
- Erscheinungsdatum: 05.12.2025
- Umfang: 20 Seiten
- Artikelnr: ZFF2502W003
- DOI (E-Paper-Teilbeitrag): 10.3278/ZFF2502W003
- Imprint: wbv Publikation
- Sprache: Englisch
- Lizenzhinweis:
- Autor(en): Gabriela Lüthi, Elisabeth Peyer, Nadia Ravazzini