At a glance
For: students, teachers
Topics: Flexibility in examination options, English, German (as a foreign language), French, Spanish, Language Center of the University of Kassel, Expansion of examination options, Standardization of action-oriented and university-related language examinations
Location: University of Kassel
Flexibility in examinations in foreign language courses
The project, based at the International Study Centre (ISZ) / Language Centre of the University of Kassel, aims to make the examination options more flexible and expand them for participants in the language courses English, French, Spanish and German (as a foreign language).
Development of an examination pool
The development of an examination pool within the framework of the QuiS_Flex project creates the conditions to significantly expand the existing range of examination dates at the language center, especially with regard to make-up exams and repeat exams.
The option to choose between several "Resit" exam dates per semester allows students to manage their time more flexibly and structure their studies more effectively. Timely alternative dates increase the likelihood of taking the exam close to the start of the course. This improves the chances of successfully completing the coursework, as language skills, in particular, can be lost very quickly without continuous practice. Students can therefore benefit in many ways from more flexible exam options throughout their studies. Their academic success can be enhanced.
Since the examinations at the Language Centre of the University of Kassel serve not only for course completion and credit acquisition, but also for the certification of a level of competence – based on the standards of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) as well as on the UNIcert® levels – the planned flexibilization of the examination system and the then possible expansion of the ‘Resit’ entitlement increases the opportunities of students in the area of international mobility and on the job market.
The development of standardized assessments within the project also aims to positively impact the quality of teaching and the sustainability of educational content, in line with the principle of constructive alignment. The overall attractiveness of the foreign language program at the University of Kassel is to be increased by making assessment options more flexible.
Contact person in
Dr. Bettina Baumgärtel , University of Kassel
