As the traditional grammar translation approach is being gradually replaced by communicative or task-based approaches, paper-and-pencil tests, commonly used in English classes in Taiwan, do not meet the course goals. Alternative assessment, known for increasing learners' cognitive and meta-cognitive development as well as empowering students to take ownership of their learning, has been practiced extensively in L1 higher education, but neglected in L2 elementary schools. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate how peer and self-assessment can be implemented to evaluate young EFL learners' oral presentation and how the students perceive this experience. The study was conducted in two sixth grade classes at a public elementary school in southern Taiwan. After attending a professional development workshop held by the government, a local English teacher practiced peer and self-assessment in her class so as to engage every student in class activities and also to provide an opportunity for them to reflect upon their performance. In the process, the students formed groups of six to discuss and give grades after each individual student's oral report. Three types of data sources were analyzed. The first was the evaluation rubrics from peer groups, each presenting students, and the teacher. Then, a survey, containing 16 closed-format questions and one open-ended question, was administered to elicit the students' perceptions of the assessment process. Also, an interview was done with the teacher. The results show that peer and teacher assessment had strong positive correlation, whereas self-and teacher assessment were moderately correlated. The strength of correlation also varied for each evaluation criterion. Though learners responded positively to the assessing experiences in the questionnaires, they expressed concern that some grades assigned by peers were not fair and a few group members dominated the grading process. The findings shed light on benefits of combining peer and self-assessment and suggest training should emphasize self-assessment, evaluation criteria related to content of the presentation, and students' social skills to work harmoniously in groups. Most of all, students' traditional way of learning should not be neglected.

Role-play is an oral classroom activity that has been promoted to provide young learners with opportunities to practice English in meaningful contexts. To familiarize elementary students with this group task, to encourage them to pay attention to their peers' performances, and to replace traditional paper-and-pencil modes of evaluating speaking tasks, an alternative group peer assessment (PA) was proposed in this action research implemented with 114 fourth-grade and fifth-grade students in four classes in an elementary school in southern Taiwan. Analyses of ratings and written comments of the teacher and peer groups, student survey, and teacher reflection showed PA served a possible approach to evaluate English learners' speaking performance. Students enjoyed and benefited from being empowered in their learning. Suggestions for future practice include emphasizing rationale for practicing PA, facilitating group discussions, explaining explicitly how to give and accept constructive comments, clarifying evaluation rubrics, and taking into account students' language abilities and learning styles.