chonabot Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I asked another teacher to check my test questions for the M4 finals next week. One of my questions/answers reads like this : 1. Which one of these phrases displays expressing a preference? a) I'd love to b I'd rather not c) I'm tired d) I'm annoyed I marked a) as the correct answer on the answer key. She argued that a) or b could be the right answer. IMO - I'd rather not is displaying the choice to not do something or not go somewhere etc. I suggested that this is an antonym of preference as it is displaying a dislike of a suggestion. She then stated that it means that someone would prefer not to do something and therefore is displaying a preference of sorts. Am I wrong? This is no biggie but I am curious to here your thoughts Edited February 12, 2013 by chonabot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I Like Thai Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I think you're wrong and she's correct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I think you're wrong and she's correct I think you're wrong and she's correct Thanks - please elaborate? Edited February 12, 2013 by chonabot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyG Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Preferences can be both positive and negative, so both a & b are correct. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carib Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Not going to elaborate, I'd rather not because I prefer not too. She is right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlyAnimal Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 She's correct, however if you put "What is the best answer" Then a) is still correct In general, asking for the "best" answer is better than just asking for the answer, as then you don't need to potentially split hairs over an answer which is technically correct but not as obviously correct as the original. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phosphorescent Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Rather and prefer can be used interchangeably, therefor 'rather' is an indication of preference. She is right. Edited February 12, 2013 by phosphorescent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somtamnication Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Chonabot. You need to buy her one of those "oh shit, you are right" baskets from Tesco. Quick!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briggsy Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I would think this was yet another multiple choice question that had more than one possible answer. In this case either a) or B As a student taking the test, I would be forced to choose B as a) is usually used to indicate strong desire or an enthusiastic acceptance of a suggestion rather than expressing a preference. This question needs to be changed. Edited February 12, 2013 by Briggsy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candypants Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I think you're wrong and she's correct i (woul)'d rather not clearly expresses a preference. you are wrong. The fact that both options 1 and 2 begin with I would should indicate to you that both statements are similar in intent Edited February 12, 2013 by candypants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiebebe Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) I thought b was the correct answer because 'would rather' has the same meaning as 'would prefer' which just seems to be what the question was getting at. As it's an M4 test, the question should be changed - but what does it matter, Thai students can't fail, right? Edited February 12, 2013 by aussiebebe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirchai Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Sorry, but if it's an "ordinary" program ,with only one hour taught by you, I'd make it much easier. Now it's not about if a or b is right. The question itself is not one that shows kids ability in English. Multiple orgasms...aeeh questions are questionable.-- I'd say a and b are right. But if that has to be discussed first, just don't use it. Edited February 12, 2013 by sirchai Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trembly Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Without seeing the whole exam question I would say that B is correct and A is wrong because A does not necessarily imply that there's even a choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
culicine Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Both A and B are correct. Looks like a model question from a Thai teacher - where of course there is only one correct answer, even though multiple exist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trembly Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Both A and B are correct. Looks like a model question from a Thai teacher - where of course there is only one correct answer, even though multiple exist. 'A' would only be correct if it was part of a sentence that went along the lines of : "I'd love to ________ in stead of _______" or "Would you rather ___________ in stead of ___________? I'd love to." If the entire exam question was as Chonabot has written in his post then the only answer that indicates preference is B Edited February 12, 2013 by Trembly 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 I'll get my coat ...the one I prefer...... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thequietman Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Sorry but a or b. maybe you should take a leaf out of the O-net and ask them to pick the most correct. Please take the time to ensure your tests are grammatically correct. Its bad enough the students have to go through this with their thai teachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Sorry but a or b. maybe you should take a leaf out of the O-net and ask them to pick the most correct. Please take the time to ensure your tests are grammatically correct. Its bad enough the students have to go through this with their thai teachers. Sorry M'lud I agree - that's why I asked her to check. A few teachers left us in the lurch and as a result we are swamped. I'm currently still marking mid terms re-sits as well as setting the M1 and M3/M4 final tests. I made this mistake by quoting an example from the current coursebook - and as a result I am still okay with the mistake. Had I been sloppy and not asked anyone to check, then I would be angry with myself. Being busy isn't always the best recipe for accurate testing; hence the use of a colleague Edited February 12, 2013 by chonabot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJIC Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) She is correct! A. & B are both expressing a preference,which is personal choice,and choosing either A. or B. would also have been correct. Note: As questions C & D are irrelevant,then any combination answer of A & B is a dead giveaway, answer in a multichoice answer test. Edited February 12, 2013 by MAJIC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbrain Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 Even I can see that a & b are correct, and I'm not English and neither am I a teacher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilgore Trout Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 I can't believe they are having (basically) untrained educators create course material. People with limited training, tefl, celta etc should be following a set curriculum with a standardized test for summative assessment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chonabot Posted February 12, 2013 Author Share Posted February 12, 2013 (edited) Even I can see that a & b are correct, and I'm not English and neither am I a teacher Like I said, it can be easy to make a simple mistake when you are over worked - I hold up my hands and admit to that Teaching a group of 50-60 kids, twenty times a week, is a different matter altogether; whether you are a NES or not. I agree that we should not be setting these tests, but it gives an insight into how seriously the Thai School consider the 'English conversation' syllabus. Edited February 12, 2013 by chonabot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 The OP is satisfied with the responses. //Closed// Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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