An investigation into the impact of vocabulary retrieval practice as a method of formative assessment in a Latin AS-level unseen translation context

Unseen translation forms a central part of assessment and teaching both in the Latin GCSE and A Level. Developing skills for the unseen translation presents several challenges for the classroom teacher; unseens can be introduced using a scaffolded approach, yet pupils must learn to develop independence for the examination. Unseens can often take an entire lesson, or more to translate, precluding the opportunity for meaningful, immediate feedback. Furthermore, classes of mixed- ability students often suffer from staggered completion rates and unequal attention being divided among students. Within the curriculum, unseen classes can additionally suffer from feeling severed from the specification as passages contain unfamiliar material, the content is discrete from the set texts, and lack of an overarching framework for approaching unseens can make them feel irrelevant to pupils. Therefore, striking a balance between productive support for in-class unseen translation practice and nurturing pupil confidence requires a clear strategy. This article investigates the effect of two methods of formative assessment used in preparation for an unseen translation lesson with a year 12 class. Reflecting on the results of the investigation, this article discusses the opportunities different tasks may afford the Latin teacher for developing a vocabulary curriculum that supports long-term retention of vocabulary, increases the efficiency of unseen classes, and allows the unseen passage to be received as part of a wider framework of learning.