Online peer assessment of speaking with the EPSS (Electronic Performance Support System)

While developing and emphasizing oral skills in foreign language learning in line with the Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEF) seems to be the general trend in the whole of Europe, the place and attention given to oral skills in the majority of schools across Europe is less than it deserves. This is so owing to a number of factors, one being that oral skills are slow to develop, require time and investment in terms of attention and resources and yet leave largely insubstantial evidence of effort, and finally teaching materials oftentimes focus on more manageable language elements and skills. The Web application described in the subsequent pages is a reasonable solution to this problem as it allows teaching staff to jointly evaluate the oral skills and proficiency of their pupils through a web-based environment. The main objectives of the rationale behind the web app are in bringing teaching staff in various institutions by providing them with a community where their assessments can be validated by their colleagues and to provide them and their pupils with tools to distribute and share annotated video and audio materials on the internet. This article outlines the workings of the web app, its major components, the logic behind it and the logistics in creating online assessments of oral proficiency in a collaborative assessment environment with a Community of Practice as a safeguard for the continual and sustained operation of the web-based evaluation environment for assessing oral skills.