"The Great Debate"

It caught me off guard. Turning my first exam back to my students on our second week together, I was prepared for about a 10 minute activity. My students taught me: reviewing a test is a different type of experience here!

As I began reviewing the exam one page at a time asking for questions and receiving none, I thought this activity would be pretty much like the one I experience in America. Wrong! As we approached the essay questions, questions in the previous pages started to fly. And, as I read the question and then give the correct answer and why the other options—multiple choice or true/false—were wrong, that's when "the great debate" began.

Language is an interesting thing and nuance in language can walk a fine line. I had prepared my exams in America using the text provided software program and had tried to eliminate words that are used metaphorically or have double meanings or questions that seemed unclear. Clearly I had failed this exam filter test since my students felt many of the stated answers made no sense. And, they were very willing to explain the accuracy of their answers vs. mine. It was a fascinating learning experience!

During the next 40 minutes we walked through nearly every 25 true/false and 25 multiple choice questions together debating the value of their responses vs. mine. I decided to take this opportunity to re-teach the lessons we had covered and explain in a different way the reasons why those they selected weren't the correct responses until I got agreement.

Fortunately, I had at least foreseen my need to provide the choice of one additional essay question as a bonus when they took the exam. I told them that was my way of rectifying whatever language issues were inherent in the exam question. I think they appreciated the wisdom in this.

For the second exam's review I planned better and allotted 40 minutes for this exercise. The experience this Tuesday was similar, (they told me this test was the hardest of the two) but I think my students now better understood I wasn't trying to trick them. All I want is to know they know the subject. So, I had prepared to discuss every question in detail...and I think this is a good, new insight for me: post-test review provides just as important a learning experience as pre-test in a different culture/language. I plan on applying this to my tests in March when I return to teach Public Relations.

Thanks International Marketing students for teaching me this lesson! :)