A Comparative Analysis of the Perceived Effects of Interactionist and Interventionist Dynamic Assessment Models in the Improvement of Speaking Subskills Among Iranian EFL Learners

Saeid Sarabi Asl ¹ ( )
Mojgan Rashtchi ² ( English Language Department, College of Foreign Languages, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran )
Ghafour Rezaie ³ ( Department of English, Garmsar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Garmsar, Iran )

Submited date : 2024-06-04 Accepted date : 2024-10-13

Keywords: Dynamic assessment, speaking accuracy, fluency, complexity, qualitative, EFL,

Abstract :

Dynamic assessment offers a holistic approach to evaluation by embedding assessment within instruction. Despite evidence suggesting the effectiveness of DA in language classrooms, there remains a reluctance among teachers to adopt DA practices. This reluctance stems from a lack of understanding of how DA models impact specific learning outcomes, particularly in speaking skills. One main contributing factor is the dominance of quantitative DA studies, which do not contextualize the differences between DA models. With an inductive thematic analysis design, this study explored the perceived effects of interactionist and interventionist DA models on speaking accuracy, fluency, and complexity among Iranian EFL students. Thirty undergraduate intermediate EFL learners from Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch, were recruited through purposive sampling. Each participant had received one hundred hours of speaking lessons with one of the DA models embedded before participating in a semi-structured interview. The analysis of participants' perceptions and reflections revealed that both DA models were well-received for improving speaking skills but had different effects on subskills. Learners perceived the interactionist model as an effective teaching method that improved their speaking accuracy and complexity but reduced fluency, while the interventionist model favored fluency at the expense of grammatical accuracy and complexity.

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