How to Assess Learners in Chichewa

The assessment process begins with the learner holding the assessment instrument, which contains various sections to test their skills. The 'Maina a Malembo' section of the instrument tests the learner's ability to identify letter names. The teacher points to each letter and asks the learner to name it one by one. The total correct answers are recorded in the 'Score' column of the skill chart. If the learner correctly identifies at least 7 out of 10 letter names, a tick (√) is marked in the 'Letter Names' cell in the skill chart. The 'Maliwu' section of the instrument tests the learner's ability to identify sounds. The teacher points to each sound and asks the learner to identify it one by one. The total correct answers are recorded in the 'Score' column of the skill chart. If the learner correctly identifies at least 7 out of 10 sounds, a tick (√) is marked in the 'Sounds' cell in the skill chart. The 'Maphatikizo' section of the instrument tests the learner's ability to identify syllables. The teacher points to each syllable and asks the learner to identify it one by one. The total correct answers are recorded in the 'Score' column of the skill chart. If the learner correctly identifies at least 7 out of 10 syllables, a tick (√) is marked in the 'Syllables' cell in the skill chart. The 'Mawu' section of the instrument tests the learner's ability to read words. The teacher points to each word and asks the learner to read it one by one. The total correct answers are recorded in the 'Score' column of the skill chart. If the learner correctly reads at least 7 out of 10 words, a tick (√) is marked in the 'Words' cell in the skill chart. The assessment process involves four steps, with each step testing a different aspect of the learner's reading and writing skills. The teacher uses the assessment instrument to guide the learner through each step, recording their answers and marking their progress in the skill chart. The assessment process is designed to evaluate the learner's ability to identify letter names, sounds, syllables, and words in the Chichewa language. The results of the assessment are recorded in the skill chart, providing a clear picture of the learner's strengths and weaknesses.