Journal: Language Assessment

The first week of my seventh semester, I was presented a lecture regarding language assessment. My position as student of English literature which certainly studies language as primary course, and simultaneously a freelance teacher who occasionally got confused in testing my students makes this course very interesting to heed.

When my teacher explained the course, my memory was suddenly thrown to the time when I frequently found difficult to instruct and test my student. During this time, when I had to assess my student I only imitated the way my teachers in my college tests their students, such as discussing the course together to get the idea, quiz, or other kinds of formal test without studying it formally. That time, I thought it was no problem with that although sooner or later I shall find it necessary to learn as it will cope difficulties related to such things.

Regarding to my experience, it was right that I need to learn this course as its aim is to make us a good language instructor, so that soon at least I can be a good teacher to my student and help them understand the course with proper tests. Its objective is also in accordance with the definition of language assessment, that is: any ways to help learners develop and gain maximum knowledge and skill regarding language use by evaluating it with many ways.

Many ways to evaluate one’s achievement in language use, and it divided into formal and informal assessment. In accordance to its name, formal assessment tend to be conducted with formal ways, such as:  make journals, portfolios, and tests. Hence, it can be said that formal assessment is planned and systematically prepared. Otherwise, informal assessment is unplanned, unprepared, and spontaneous such as: give either oral or written comments. The formal and informal assessment can be given during the process of learning as an effort to help learners gain maximum knowledge and skills. Such way called as formative assessment. Beside formative, there is also summative assessment which is conducted in the end of the learning process in order to summarize the ‘end’ result of the learners. Final exam is one of example of summative assessment.

Learning language assessment, basically, we learn to test one’s language ability. Throughout my life, I know several conventional tests e.g. examination, interview, TOEIC, TOEFL, and comments. I just have known that those tests belong to different types. There are tests which according to their purposes, such as language proficiency tests in order to know someone’s language proficiency. Thus, TOEFL and TOEIC are kind of the test. Regarding to proficiency, there is also tests according to language proficiency concept that divided into discrete-point tests that evaluate specific skill (such as, listening test, reading test, or pronunciation test) and integrative test that integrates all skills, so it evaluates more than one skill. For example: You’re given a text, and you’re demanded to answer some questions related to the text, then summarize it, thus, the skill that is evaluated is reading and writing. Not only that, there are tests according to their scoring. This kind of test is divided into norm referenced test or usually called as objective test like common tests ( mid test, final test), and criterion-referenced test or subjective test that has its own criteria to score people. Music contest such as Indonesia Mencari Bakat is criterion-referenced test. There are still two more kinds of test, namely: communicative language test which essentially a performance of language use that related to real life, and performance-based test that evaluate you to explain something, such as: IELTS speaking test.

Those things are the concept of language assessment that gives me deeper insight in evaluating and testing language use. Directly, it teaches me how to cope with such hinder. Now, I am not confused anymore and I know that in fact, there are many ways to test and evaluate someone’s language proficiency. Therefore, it helps me a lot to give proper test to my student. 

Gunadarma English Club (GEC)

HISTORY

Once upon a time, there is an English club run by Faculty of Letters Gunadarma. This club was tutored by some lecturer of the faculty to develop English knowledges and skills. As time goes by, the club was inactive for particular reasons: the participants of the club became siginificanly decreased until it reached zero, and the club was like an empty-haunted house. No one had ever gone there again.

Years by years has passed. The senior has graduated, the freshman has come over to the university for many times, and yet the club remained empty. No place for the nap club. Until finally….. The yearning of the club started emerging by people who asked and cared about the existence of English club.

The student executive board striked up concerning about this matter, and recorded name-list of student of faculty of letters which only consists of one major, namely: English literature. (At least til’ this time September 2016) But, for somehow after that, no news about the existence of the club. It still invisible, and the students who had expected that for turning into reality was disappointed.

The sun has risen very bright, it was a sign for a good day. Student Executive Board (SEB) Faculty of Letters changed to the new period of 2015/2016. There were two members of Education Division of SEB who proposed the existence of English club as part of the program of education division. Well, it was planned to be a club which only consists of English literature student.

However, the plot has changed, two students from other majors proposed the same club to SEB Faculty of Letters 2015/2016 that eventually made some agreements to form a club namely GUNADARMA ENGLISH CLUB (GEC) which its member not only consists of English literature student but also from all faculties. And so, the story of GEC begins.

ABOUT G E C

The English club of Gunadarma was officially established in January 2016 under the name of Student Executive Board Faculty of Letters period of 2015/2016 as its patron. So, the SEB only oversees the activity of GEC. As the club which has just reborn, the ones who has proposed the existence of GEC recruited a committee to manage the club that later known as first generation of GEC. For your information, one period in GEC is 8 months, and we are now in the second generation of GEC.

The committee consists of head, vice head, secretary, and treasurer. It is also divided into 3 main divisions:

A.    AFILIATION

It manages every single thing related to the members of GEC.

B.     PUBLICATION

Publish any events and informations either related or unrelated to GEC since the informations are assumed significant.

C.     EDUCATION

Manage and decide any materials to be shared or discussed with members each meeting.

In conclusion, the club was overseed by SEB Faculty of Letters UG, managed by the committee, run together by committee and members.

A I M

We provide a place for those who have same interest in English language and passionately want to develop their English skill. Therefore, GEC acts as media-support for learning and sharing English in various ways that is expected could generate and ideal English skill performance.

LEARNING SYSTEM AND MEETING

First of all, you have to know that we are still unofficial club unlike UKM (Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa), hence our activity independently managed by the committee and run together with the members. However, we struggle to change our status into UKM to be more acknowledged.

How do we change that status?

By learning and sharing together in every meeting consistently.

What kind of sharing?

You can share your experience, opinion, knowledge related to the topic that will be discussed or shared in every meeting. Therefore, we emphasize SPEAKING SKILL as our priority to be learned. Speaking skill is very important because it encompasses other skills of English language, such as: vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and listening. In order to speak up the things you are going to express, you need to prepare it first to get stunning presentation or performance in front of everyone. To prepare it, you definitely will be writing some points related to the topic you’re going to present. By doing so, you also indirectly learn writing and reading skill. We increase those English language skills by speaking, hence we will be used to it, and shall use it to prepare any competition, such as: speech, dialogue competition, debate, story telling, etc. We will practice together when we are going to face the competition according to YOUR interest.

Is there any tutor?

Unfortunately, there is no permanent tutor yet for our club since the club is not UKM. But, we are looking forward for the competent ones to share their knowledge to us. It can be you, lecturer, or whoever as long as they’re qualified.

How many times for meeting in a month?

We do have meeting every two weeks. So, we have two times in a month. It will be held at D61 or tentative. The committee will inform you if there is changed schedule.

EMBLEM PHILOSOPHY

1.  As you can see that there are UK and US flag in our logo which indicate both accents: American and British
2.  The book and abbreviation of ‘GEC’ on it show that every knowledge we get is sourced from book. It becomes our foundation to gain knowledge
3.  The torch symbolizes our almamater— Gunadarma University
4.  The ribbon shows creativity and innovation
5.  Gold color symbolizes prestige that shows our club is prestigious
6.  Blue color indicates 3C: cleaver, creative, and communicative. This is also why our jargon is : Smart, Active, Creative
7.  Brown color on the flagpole symbolizes friendship. We expect that every member of GEC can be a good friend that will bring us into good friendship.

If you pay attention to details of the emblem, then you will find out that it is similar to emblem of SEB Faculty of Letters UG (BEM FSASTRA UG) to show that GEC is part of BEM Sastra UG in the first time, and also both emblem was designed by the same person. 


Written By

Lista Rani
English Literature 2013
Founder and Vice Head of GEC

IG GEC: @englishclubug

Resign BEM atau Gak, ya?

It was really confusing for me to decide. Udah terlalu banyak kenangan yang dibuat selama satu tahun gw di BEM, dan sekarang gw dihadapkan diantara keputusan untuk lanjut atau tidak. To make you understand how hard it is to decide, let me tell you my story between me and BEM.

I am kind of organized person, I do always have plan almost for everything including my decision to join student executive board of my faculty in my university. Rencananya masuk BEM hanya untuk satu periode yaitu selama tingkat 3 kuliah. Karena gw pikir satu periode di BEM udah cukup menambah pengalaman gw di organisasi beside after BEM, di tingkat 4 gw punya prioritas lain yaitu fokus kuliah. I need to prepare myself to face the end of my college year, I need to pay every lectures which have left behind, I need to make my title degree is really worth by being an excellent bachelor. Singkatnya, tingkat 4 gw mau memastikan bahwa apa yang telah gw pelajari selama ini tidak sia-sia, dan gw bisa menguasai itu semua--- Karena gw gamau jadi sarjana sastra abal-abal.

Balik lagi ke BEM, ya di tingkat 3 gw join BEM dan gw bener-bener NIAT untuk itu. Sampe gw memprioritaskan BEM dibanding kuliah karena memang, once again, tingkat 3 gw butuh BEM sebagai bagian dari pengalaman di masa kuliah gw. Gak banyak basa-basi, dengan modal CV kreatif, pengalaman organisasi saat sekolah dulu, lalu wawancara sederhana akhirnya gw resmi jadi pengurus BEM (Note: Istilahnya 'pengurus' bukan 'anggota'. However, pengurus BEM adalah anggota BEM, tapi anggota BEM belum tentu pengurus BEM e.g. Mahasiswa biasa yang bukan 'anak BEM' adalah anggota BEM #biasakanyangbenarjanganbiasakanyangsudahbiasa). So, gw resmi jadi pengurus BEM sejak itu dan gw berusaha put my best on it, gw selalu berusaha ada dikala BEM butuh gw, dan gw mau cari sebanyak-banyaknya pengalaman di sini.

Do you know what's most inevitable fact of BEM?
 

Gw menyimpulkan bahwa selama 3 tahun gw kuliah, belajar di kelas mengikuti perkuliahan-perkuliahan, JUSTRU the true learnings itu ada di BEM. Justru, pelajaran dan pengalaman selama satu tahun gw di BEM lebih berharga ketimbang 3 tahun gw belajar di kelas. Like literally oh my goodness, ini tuh beyond my expectation. It's not only add the value of my CV later when I apply to company or such. IT IS MORE THAN THAT! Sampe gw tuh ngerasa, gila gw beruntung bangetlah jadi anak BEM. Sumpah ini gak lebay, it's truly what I've felt since I join BEM. Mungkin karena gw put 100% dedication juga kali ya di sini. Whatever, pokoknya BEM ngasih banyak pelajaran sama gw, dan gw bisa menyalurkan bakat dan interest gw di sini. Contohnya? Banyak.

Gw punya interest dan sedikit keahlian di editing & design which is eventually itu bermanfaat di BEM dengan gw ngedesign logo baru BEM (yang notabennya ini logo bakal kepake terus sampe gw wafat dengan catatan ga ada ketua BEM selanjutnya yang berinisiatif ganti logo BEM FSastra Gunadarma, dan semoga ga ada karena itu berharga banget buat gw :') #curhat #emanginicurhatsih). Gak cuma interest gw doang yang kepake, my speaking skill and confidence are also useful here, kalo gak jadi anak BEM kayaknya gw gak akan mencicipi pengalaman menjadi moderator, MC, ketua acara, dll. Apalagi pas jadi ketua acara gw ngerasain lagi atmosfir mengatur banyak hal kompleks since gw vakum beberapa tahun di dunia organisasi (baca: My Organization Stories: From School to University), such as bekerjasama, teamwork yang beneran teamwork, mikirin strategi. Gw bersyukur diberi kesempatan untuk jadi ketua acara. Karena itu, gw belajar approaching speaker, sponsor, bikin MOU, nyari dan attract peserta, ngurusin perizinin ini itu, nanyain soal media partner, design sertifikat peserta, plakat, dll, pokoknya make sure everyhing's okay in preparing the event, deh. Dan yang bikin lebih bersyukur lagi yaitu dengan join BEM gw bisa menyalurkan ide dan pemikiran gw. Termasuk seminar yang gw ketuai itu adalah ide yang selama ini ingin gw realisasikan. Kalau gak di BEM, mungkin gw gak akan pernah bisa merealisasikan itu. Gw juga semenjak tingkat satu pengen banget ada english club di kampus tapi belum ada juga, sampai akhirnya di BEM gw menginisiatifkan itu (bersama teman gw) dan jadilah Gunadarma English Club (GEC), gw bikin logonya lagi, term and condition, dll. Selama di BEM, gw jadi panitia di berbagai kegiatan yang makin menambah practical experience gw dan itu gak hanya di ruang lingkup sastra tapi juga ruang lingkup lain seperti seni musik, olahraga, politik, sosial.  Ah, pokoknya kalau gw ngomongin apa yang udah dilalui di BEM banyak banget, ada sejuta momen di sana that I bet I will never forget them.

But, dari semua hal yang udah disebutin di atas, what's most precious is the value of becoming human as homo social was really thick. Di sini gw belajar bagaimana menghargai dan mengerti jalan pikiran seseorang, gak mudah mencap negatif atas tindakan yang diperbuat seseorang because every moves of someone is based on reasons which sometimes can't never be understood by our own perspective. Di sini gw lebih sosialis dan sadar betapa bodohnya gw, tapi dengan merasa seperti itu, literally, i always learn something. Hal lain yang gw syukuri dari aktif di kegiatan BEM adalah banyak temen, kenal sama junior, senior, bahkan pihak-pihak luar kampus, and I learned so much from them, and I learned to respect them.

Then, from a bunch of valuable things which I got by being a part of BEM, why did I so damn confused in deciding to resign or not? 

First, Setahun gw di BEM, gw merasa bermanfaat dan berkembang. Dari hal itulah mulai terpikir untuk break rencana awal yang menyebutkan bahwa gw hanya akan mengikuti satu periode di BEM. Gw mulai ada niatan untuk lanjut BEM sajalah, toh the longer, the more I shall get the experience. Namun, second, suddenly di penghujung periode seolah semuanya berbalik 180 derajat. Gak semua hal manis selamanya manis, there is always bitter memories and bastard people in a splendid circumstances. I know hal itu pasti, and I can fine with that. Tapi, kenapa bisa sampai segalau ini? Karena sangat fatal, and for me, it is intorelable. I dont want to tell the ugly truth to avoid gossip, yang jelas hal ini membuat hati dan otak jadi gak sinkron. Hati bilang tidak, otak bilang why not? Akhirnya gw memutuskan untuk istikharah dan hasilnya tidak. Tapi, setelah jawaban ‘tidak’ itu , selama satu bulan gw masih tetap mempertimbangkan untuk lanjut, dan saat itu gw membuat beberapa rencana yang akan dijalankan jika pada akhirnya gw lanjut BEM, and also I have several reasons to stay. I can say that it is my hardest decision which I need to take because ini perkara yang susah untuk ditinggalkan tapi maksa untuk dilepaskan. Stay or leave? Hence I share my vacillations and worries to my closest friends, and after that, I wasn't get what I really want, thus I still tried to swim in the middle of ocean, and didn't found the edge yet. Sampe akhirnya... due to my weary in deciding the unfixed thing, gw tersadarkan ketika hati kecil gw berkata, "Lista, no matter what you've been planned for BEM which is excellent in your opinion, your calculation and logical thinking shall never able to compete with the logic of YOUR GOD." Gw udah istikharah dan jawabannya tidak, tapi gw masih tetap mempertimbangkan untuk lanjut BEM setelah istikharah itu. Hingga detik-detik terakhir keputusanpun gw masih galau juga, so finally I thought that perhaps the first answer of my istikharah is the best way that Allah has pointed me since I drown with terrible confusion. Akhirnya dengan berat hati dan rasa sedih gw memutuskan untuk resign dari BEM. Awalnya memang berat, tapi gak lama beberapa hari kemudian, I was like given guidance for what I need to do during the rest of my time in college year, and suddenly I was really grateful. Sampe sekarangpun, well I am, really grateful for what I have decided.

However, gw juga bersyukur karena diberi kesempatan untuk bertemu teman-teman yang luar biasa di BEM. Gw beryukur atas pelajaran dan pengalaman berharga yang gw dapat di BEM, and for God's sake I will never forget them--- all my friends here, memories, and learnings. BEM memberikan sejuta manfaat dan pembelajaran bahkan ketika dalam masa sulit sekalipun. Satu pesan buat kalian yang baca ini, if you are a college student, go bustle yourself with student organization, you will never regret your action for then.

Dengan keputusan gw itu, which is resign, everything's back build upon my early plan. Gw hanya berpartisipasi aktif di BEM selama satu periode. At least, di tingkat 4 ini gw bisa ngejar salah satu target gw yang lulus dengan predikat sarjana anti abal-abal. Dari kebimbangan dan kegalauan ini gw belajar bahwa kita gabisa memaksakan sesuatu yang sudah tidak pada tempatnya. Selogis apapun kita, sometimes we just need totally believe in our heart, and TRUST OUR GOD. Percaya bahwa segala sesuatu sudah ditetapkan dan diatur oleh tangan yang berkuasa akan hal itu. Percaya bahwa ke depannya ada hal yang jauh lebih baik telah disiapkan untuk kita. So, the key is BELIEVE. JUST B E L I E V E!

Baca post selanjutnya: 6 Benefits of Joining Student Organization