A Vygotskean approach to evaluation in foreign language learning contexts

by Andréa Machado de Almeida Mattos

This study is based on the Vygotskian concepts of the zone of proximal development, scaffolding, private speech, and task and activity, as presented by Lantolf and Appel (1994). The research design draws on work by Donato (1994) and Coughlan and Duff (1994), and applies their ideas to suggest a sociocultural approach to the evaluation of EFL learners, which provides a better setting for language learning and teaching.

Taken from ELT Journal Volume 54/4 (October 2000).

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You might be interested to know that the search function on version 2 of the CD-ROM shows that 8 out of the 699 documents included contain the word 'Vygotsky'. These include:

An investigation of the structure of group activities in ELT coursebooks by George M. Jacobs and Jessica Ball
(Volume 50/2: April 1996)

The specialized language school in the Soviet Union at the time of ‘perestroika’ by Bruce Monk (Volume 44/1: January 1990)

Review of 'Psychology for Language Teachers: a social constructivist approach' (M. Williams & R.L. Burden)
by Steven McDonough (Volume 53/3: July 1999)