Mr. Franklin believes that ongoing assessments are particularly important for English language learners, but that standardized tests in English don't always reflect ELLs' true content knowledge or abilities. Instead, he is a strong proponent of performance-based assessments. Which of the following would be an appropriate performance-based activity for Mr. Franklin to use to assess ELLs' speaking or reading skills?

• A. Debating, either one-on-one or taking turns in small groups
• B. Giving descriptions or instructions using visual or written prompts
• C. Traditional multiple-choice tests
• D. Completing a fill-in-the-blank worksheet

Answer: (A)

Performance-based assessment centers on students using language in real, meaningful tasks rather than just selecting answers on a test. Debating fits this approach well because it requires students to speak and listen in extended, organized discourse, articulate their ideas, defend a position, and respond to others in real time. To prepare, students typically read sources, evaluate evidence, and structure arguments, which integrates reading comprehension with language use. This kind of activity gives a clear picture of how well ELLs can manage content while using appropriate vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and interaction strategies in a realistic setting. It can be supported with sentence frames, visuals, glossaries, and pair or small-group roles to help learners participate effectively. In contrast, traditional tests and isolated worksheets tend to measure recognition or isolated skills rather than the dynamic speaking and reading abilities practiced in authentic communication, so they don’t align as well with this performance-based approach.