Integrating TESOL Activities (Including IPA) into the Portfolio
Portfolios are ideal for showcasing the process and products of Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA) tasks, which focus on real-world language use.
A. Speaking Section
Interpersonal Tasks:
- 🎤Record short conversations (e.g., role-plays, interviews)
- 💭Include a reflection: "What was easy? What was hard? What would I say differently next time?"
Presentational Tasks:
- 📹Add videos or audio of presentations, stories, or speeches
- 👤For example, a learner's 1-minute "about me" speech or a cultural comparison presentation
B. Writing Section
Interpretive Tasks:
- 📝Include summaries or responses to authentic texts (e.g., a news article, song lyrics, or video)
- 🍽️For example: "I read a menu in Spanish and circled the foods I'd order."
Presentational Writing:
- ✉️Add essays, emails, or social media posts written for a real audience
- 📨For example, a letter to a pen pal or a review of a movie
C. Listening/Reading Section
Interpretive Tasks:
- 🗒️Attach notes, mind maps, or drawings based on listening/reading activities
- 🎧For example: "I listened to a podcast about holidays and drew what I imagined."
Reflections:
- ❓Ask learners to write or record: "What did I understand? What words did I look up? What surprised me?"
D. Cultural Connections
IPA's Cultural Comparisons:
- 🌍Add photos, tickets, or descriptions of cultural experiences
- 🍲For example, visiting a restaurant, attending a cultural event, or cooking a traditional dish
- 🤔Learners can write or record: "How is this similar/different from my culture?"
E. Progress Timeline
Milestones:
- 📅Tie timeline entries to IPA tasks
- 📌For example: "October: Described my family in 5 sentences (Interpersonal Writing)."
- 📌"February: Gave a 2-minute presentation about my hometown (Presentational Speaking)."
F. Reflection Page
IPA-Specific Prompts:
- 💬"How did I use the language in real life this month?"
- 🔄"What feedback did I get from my teacher/peers? How will I use it?"
- 📈"What's one thing I can do better in my next IPA task?"
Example for Adult ESL Learners:
If your IPA unit is about "Health and Wellness," learners could:
- Record a dialogue with a classmate about healthy habits (Speaking)
- Write a paragraph comparing healthcare in their home country and the U.S. (Writing)
- Add a photo of a grocery receipt with labels for healthy foods (Cultural Connections)
- Reflect: "I learned how to ask for medicine at the pharmacy. Next, I want to practice talking to a doctor."
Tools to Use:
- Digital: Google Drive folders, Seesaw, or Padlet for multimedia entries
- Physical: A binder with plastic sleeves for worksheets, photos, and handwritten reflections
Examples of Portfolios in Language Teaching
A. Young Learners (Ages 6–12)
Format: A colorful notebook or digital scrapbook
Contents:
- 🎨Drawings of vocabulary (e.g., "My House" with labeled rooms)
- 🎵Audio clips of them singing a song or reciting a poem
- ⭐Stickers or smiley faces to show progress (e.g., "I can count to 20!")
Why It Works: Kids love seeing their "collection" grow. Parents can flip through it and celebrate progress together.
B. Teens (Ages 13–18)
Format: A blog, Google Site, or Instagram-style grid
Contents:
- 📱Video diaries (e.g., "My Week in English")
- 💬Screenshots of text conversations with language partners
- 😆Memes or comics they created using target language
Why It Works: Teens enjoy creative, social media-inspired formats. It feels like "their space."
C. Adult Learners (ESL/EFL)
Format: A professional-looking ePortfolio (e.g., Weebly, Wix, or Google Sites)
Contents:
- 📄Resume or cover letter written in the target language
- 💼Recorded mock job interviews or customer service dialogues
- 🎯Reflections on how language learning connects to their goals (e.g., "I practiced English to help my child with homework.")
Why It Works: Adults appreciate the practical, goal-oriented nature of portfolios. It's also a tool they can share with employers or teachers.
D. University/Teacher Training (TESOL Programs)
Format: A structured ePortfolio with sections for lesson plans, teaching philosophy, and classroom artifacts
Contents:
- 🎥Videos of micro-teaching sessions
- 📚Sample lesson plans and student work (with reflections on what worked/didn't)
- 🔄Peer feedback and revisions of assignments
Why It Works: It prepares future teachers to showcase their skills to employers and reflect on their growth.
Real-World Example:
A TESOL program at Portland State University uses ePortfolios for capstone projects. Students include:
- Lesson plans and teaching videos
- Reflections on their teaching philosophy
- Evidence of how they've met program standards (e.g., "Here's how I differentiated instruction for multilingual learners.")
Key Takeaway:
Portfolios make learning visible, personal, and meaningful. For IPA tasks, they provide a space to document not just the final product, but the process—the drafts, the feedback, and the "lightbulb moments." This aligns perfectly with IPA's focus on authentic, communicative tasks and reflective learning.