Effects of formative assessment application on students' language proficiency and beliefs in language learning in E.F.L context: A case study

In this study, the effects of formative assessment application on students? motivation, awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and beliefs about language learning and assessment have been examined. Also, the effects of formative assessment application on students? language proficiency especially on lower-achieving students? success have been investigated in depth.The participants of this study were the students of Tarsus Technical Education Faculty Department of Design and Construction Teaching 2nd grader students. The case study was conducted with 10 students, 3 female and 7 male.By using qualitative and quantitative research designs the study has been conducted. Interviews and reflection sheets have been used as a tool in qualitative research design. The interviews and reflection questions have been prepared by the researcher. According to the data, most of the students who participated in this study had been evaluated only with written exams and the students were not pleased with this situation. But, the students expressed that they not only wanted to be assessed by only written exams but also by performance and participation as well.With the application of formative assessment, students expressed that their motivation increased, their attitude towards the lessons changed and they gained awareness about their strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, the data revealed that their beliefs about language learning changed positively after the application.With quantitative data collection tools, it has been determined how students? mid-term and final marks changed and how their success increased after formative assessment application. For the quantitative research design of the study Medcalc@10.3.0 statistical package programme was used. The findings revealed an increase in students? success after the application of formative assessment.