Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to examine what EFL teachers' beliefs and practices of
alternative assessments look like in developing students' speaking skills in some government
high schools in Jimma Zone. Besides, it studied the most challenging factors on the practices of
the teachers as it is known that assessing speaking skills obviously underpass these challenges.
To carry out the current research, the researcher designed descriptive survey study. Frequency,
percentage, mean values and standard deviation were employed to obtain the main findings. The
result showed that EFL teachers have strong beliefs about using alternative assessments but
hardly implemented for they were using test-based (traditional) assessment in oral classes. It was
also investigated that teachers' practices were highly challenged by large classes, teaching loads
and learners' background respectively. Therefore, it was recommended that all concerned bodies
and the teachers themselves have to strive to alleviate the investigated problems.
