On November 19th, Li Qinghua, Professor at Southern Medical University gave a lecture entitled “Formative Assessment of Foreign Language Teaching and its Validity” to our faculties and students.

The lecture was hosted by Xu Ying, associate professor of the School of Foreign Languages. Vice dean Han Jinlong was also present at this activity.

The lecture mainly focused on the issue of “Formative assessment of foreign language teaching” and “The validity of formative assessment”. By introducing the Chinese translation of the phrase “Formative Assessment”, Professor Li described the forming history of the Educational Assessment which can be learned as three stages: assessment of learning, assessment for learning and assessment as learning. Besides, he also pointed out that the Educational Assessment is transforming from the second stage to the third one currently.

Based on a comprehensive understanding of some scholars’ ideas on Formative Assessment and a good comparison between Formative Assessment and Summative Assessment, Professor Li put forward his own understanding of the Summative Assessment. He mentioned that the validation of formative assessment should be made in light with the concept, mission, results explanation and classroom environment of the Assessment. Finally, Professor Li made a conclusion that the value of formative assessment lies in the degree of improving students’ learning.

In the Q&A session, faculties and students raised some questions about the practical application of formative assessment in teaching and the application of Internet in formative assessment. They exchanged their views and opinions with Professor Li and learned a lot from the discussion.

Brief introduction to the lecturer

Li Qinghua, Dean of the English Department of Southern Medical University, is also Director of the China English Language Education Association, Member of International Language Testing Association and Foreign Language Teaching Research Committee, and an anonymous reviewer of academic journals including Modern Foreign Language, Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics and International Journal of Testing.

Professor Li mainly focuses on Language Testing and Assessment and Second Language Acquisition. He has published 5 monographs including the Formative Assessment Research focusing on the formative assessment of foreign language. Besides, he has published more than 40 papers in various prestigious journals, and 27 of them were cited in CSSCI.