Using Formative Assessment to Improve the Teaching of English to Young Learners

Formative assessment can be used to shed light on any aspect of teaching or learning as a basis for improving instruction. This paper provides examples of formative assessment in English classes for young learners to show a diversity of approaches. It follows assessment through the instructional cycle from planning, to teaching, to gathering data, interpreting results and finally to re-planning. It concludes with discussion and recommendations for implementing assessment in the newly mandated Foreign Language Activities for grades 5 and 6 in Japanese elementary schools