The Advantages of Interact

Abstract

This chapter reports findings from Stage I of the two-stage study. Stage I sought the comparative viewpoints of teachers as principal stakeholders on the usefulness of interact in comparison with converse, measured against six qualities of usefulness: construct validity, reliability, interactiveness, impact, practicality and authenticity. Findings were derived from two sources: an anonymous paper-based nationwide teacher survey (n = 152) targeted at the range of FLs taught in New Zealand, and interviews with teachers who had been using interact since its introduction (n = 14). The chapter presents results and analyses from Section I of the survey, a closed-ended section designed to tap into the different facets of the test usefulness construct, and findings from Section II, an open-ended section of the survey. These findings are compared to those elicited from the teacher interviews. The chapter focuses on perceived comparative advantages of interact. Implications for washback are also presented.