ENHANCING PERFORMANCE IN MANDARIN LIVE ROLE-PLAY ASSESSMENTS: THE ‘GOLDEN STEPS’ PEDAGOGICAL FRAMEWORK
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v7si3.1457Keywords:
Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL), role-play live assessment, social cognitive, self-efficacy, experiential learning, communication frameworkAbstract
This paper addresses challenges in teaching Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL) in Malaysia. In the Mandarin live role-play assessment, many students were not fully prepared, but relying on notes to deliver the content, and therefore demonstrating low levels of performance, which significantly impacts their overall grades, and challenged the assessment validity. To overcome the problem, this paper proposes the “Golden Steps” pedagogical framework, from “memorising error-free script, doing online group practice, making individual selfie memorisation video, and conducting a full group rehearsal” to guide MFL learners from mastering role play content to perform Mandarin live role-play confidently. This paper analyzes the “Golden Steps” pedagogical framework through the learning theories. It draws on Bandura Social Cognitive Theory in 1986, demonstrating how the steps build self-efficacy through enactive mastery. It further utilizes Kolb Experiential Learning Theory in 1984 to show how the process guides learners through a complete learning cycle of conceptualisation, observation, experimentation, and concrete experience. The 7Cs of Communication framework across five sequential phases are also employed to ensure the final performance is coherent: Mastery of Content (error-free script), Practice and Observation (group practice videos), Articulation and Automation (individual selfie memorisation videos), Collaboration and Cohesion (group rehearsal videos), and Execution and Evaluation (live assessment). Synthesising all the elements of the theories, this paper introduces the “Golden Steps” framework by providing MFL learners with a clear pathway from basic content mastery to confident, communicative execution. The "Golden Steps" pedagogical framework offers educators a practical, theory-grounded strategy to enhance students’ performance in Mandarin live role-play assessment.
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