According to Oscarson (1997), selfassessment refers to how, under what conditions, and with what effects learners and other users of a foreign or second language may judge their
own ability in the language. It employs a variety of techniques to probe language learners’
proficiency, such as selfreports, selftesting, mutual peerassessment, keeping learning
journals, answering questionnaires, using global proficiency rating scales, and responding to
socalled “cando” statements that ask learners to respond if they are able to perform specific
language functions. These techniques require learners’ awareness of their own progress, in
terms not only of language but also of communicative objectives. As Chamot and O’Malley
(1994) point out, “selfassessment requires the student to exercise a variety of learning
strategies and higher order thinking skills that not only provide feedback to the student but
also provide direction for future learning” (p. 119).