The impact of using the diagnostic assessment approach on the acquisition of English language skills by Jordanian seventh graders

الملخص EN

This study examined the impact of using the diagnostic assessment approach (DAP) on the acquisition of English language skills by the seventh graders.

Specifically, it attempted to answer the following main question: What is the effect of using the diagnostic assessment approach on the acquisition of seventh graders of English language skills? The subjects of the study were 58 seventh graders who were divided into two sections.

Each section consisted of 29 graders.

Section A was the experimental group, which was taught by the diagnostic assessment approach, while section C served as a control group and was taught by the conventional method of teaching.

The achievement test, (including 3 domains: integrated listening and speaking skills domain, reading domain and writing domain) was devised and content validated.

The computed reliability for internal consistency was (0.85).

The analysis of covariance test (ANCOVA) was used to detect the significance of differences between the groups’ means at a< 0.05.

The results of the study showed a statistically significant difference at a < 0.05 between the grand mean scores of the two groups on the entire achievement posttest favoring the experimental group.

The results, also, showed a statistically significant difference at a < 0.05 level between the students means of the experimental and the control groups on the three domains of the achievement test (integrated listening and speaking domain, reading domain, and the writing domain) attributed to the method of teaching in favor of the experimental group.

The study concluded that more research would be recommended to provide additional knowledge with regard to the replication of the experiment at other different levels of lgamers in school and other educational institutions.

It also recommended that extensive courses and workshops for teachers to be encouraged on the use of the new approach.