Constructive alignment in foreign language curricula

Authors Charline Rouffet, Catherine van Beuningen, Rick de Graaff
Published in The Language Learning Journal
Publication date 2023
Research groups Multilingualism and Education
Type Article

Summary

While Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is recognised as an effective approach worldwide, its implementation in foreign language (FL) classrooms remains difficult. Earlier studies have identified factors impeding CLT implementation, such as a lack of communicative lesson materials or teachers' more traditional views on language learning. In the Netherlands, CLT goals have been formulated at the national level, but are not always reflected in daily FL teaching and assessment practice. As constructive alignment between learning goals, classroom activities and assessments is a precondition for effective teaching, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the degree of alignment in Dutch FL curricula and the factors influencing it. The current study therefore aims to take a systematic inventory of classroom practices regarding the translation of national CLT goals into learning activities and assessments. Findings revealed that teaching activities and classroom assessments predominantly focused on grammar knowledge and vocabulary out of context and, to a lesser extent, on reading skills. External factors, such as teaching and testing materials available, and conceptual factors, such as teachers' conceptions of language learning, were identified to contribute to the observed lack of alignment. Assessments in particular seem to exert a negative washback effect on CLT implementation.

On this publication contributed

Language English
Published in The Language Learning Journal
Year and volume 51 3
Key words Communicative Language Teaching, constructive alignment, assessment, washback, Foreign Language Education
Digital Object Identifier 10.1080/09571736.2022.2025542
Page range 344-358

Charline Rouffet

Charline Rouffet

  • PhD candidate
  • Research group: Multilingualism and Education