Tests of English Language as significant thresholds for college-bound Chinese and the washback of test-preparation

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20502575
AutoresMarylou M Matoush (University of Florida), Danling Fu (0000-0002-2530-3361, University of Florida, autor de correspondencia)
Año2012
Volumen19
Número1
Páginas111-121
Fecha de publicación2012-03-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaChanging English (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1358-684X • E-ISSN: 1469-3585
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1358684x.2012.649176
OpenAlexW2090011624
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas20

Tests of English language mark significantly high thresholds for all college-bound students in the People’s Republic of China. Many Chinese students hope to seek their fortunes at universities in the United States, or other English speaking countries. These students spend long hours, year after year, in test-preparation centres in order to develop the testwiseness deemed necessary to increase their scores. This study critically explores what might be learned from involvement in test-preparation courses via an examination of the experience one of the authors had as she sought to balance a short-term focus on testwiseness with long-term language and literacy goals in a People’s Republic of China test-preparation centre. Discussion focuses on the nature of the washback and its potential impact on foreign language learners

China · Foreign language · Language assessment · Language proficiency · Literacy · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Political science · Test of English as a Foreign Language · Test preparation · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Engineering · Law · Psychology · Second Language Learning and Teaching · Student Assessment and Feedback