• Washback
Washback from TOEIC test has been focused in term of its effect on both
teaching and learning in the preparation to achieve a high score. The washback can be both positive and negative.
The TOEIC test has been administered worldwide and gained tremendous effect on the test-takers, teaching and learning approach and educational system. Due to the need to gain a high score on the test, the negative washback on “teaching to test” derives. TOEIC preparation course is considered a profitable educational industry and the aim of the course is to raise the test-takers’ score. Test-takers are taught through the small set of various test-taking strategies and focusing on a particular content that is expected to appear on the test. They gain a high test score without the improvement of their constructs or the actual ability in language use. The test-takers are also affected on their investment in terms of time and money for learning test-taking strategy instead of learning a language in a holistic approach.
Additionally, this negative washback has shaped the design of the curriculum
by narrowing or distortion. The reflection is on the reduction of the emphasis on the skills that require complex thinking or problem-solving skills (Alderson and Wall, 1993 cited in Rob and Ercanback, 1999). This can then affect the instructional approach directly.
The scenario from negative washback can be clearly seen in Thailand where TOEIC has been used not only for work-related purposes but also as a language proficiency reference by many academic institutions. A vast number of language institutions offer TOEIC preparation courses with similar emphasis on test-taking strategy. The students have not learned a language skill; instead they have been taught through the test-taking strategies. Thus, their language ability is not developed.
Due to the international reputation, TOEIC score has been used by many business organizations in a decision making process involving, staff hiring and promotion. Similar problem regarding negative washback exists in the business context where the staff who pose high score in TOEIC test cannot communicate appropriately. This can cause the vital problem for their future career where English is a means of communication in their organization.
In contrast, there is a positive washback on the test-takers extrinsic motivation to gain the high score. This group of people therefore pays more attention on the practice of the language and invests more time and money on the test preparation. They are exposed and interact with the target language more (Nall, 2003).
• WashbackWashback from TOEIC test has been focused in term of its effect on bothteaching and learning in the preparation to achieve a high score. The washback can be both positive and negative. The TOEIC test has been administered worldwide and gained tremendous effect on the test-takers, teaching and learning approach and educational system. Due to the need to gain a high score on the test, the negative washback on “teaching to test” derives. TOEIC preparation course is considered a profitable educational industry and the aim of the course is to raise the test-takers’ score. Test-takers are taught through the small set of various test-taking strategies and focusing on a particular content that is expected to appear on the test. They gain a high test score without the improvement of their constructs or the actual ability in language use. The test-takers are also affected on their investment in terms of time and money for learning test-taking strategy instead of learning a language in a holistic approach. Additionally, this negative washback has shaped the design of the curriculumby narrowing or distortion. The reflection is on the reduction of the emphasis on the skills that require complex thinking or problem-solving skills (Alderson and Wall, 1993 cited in Rob and Ercanback, 1999). This can then affect the instructional approach directly. The scenario from negative washback can be clearly seen in Thailand where TOEIC has been used not only for work-related purposes but also as a language proficiency reference by many academic institutions. A vast number of language institutions offer TOEIC preparation courses with similar emphasis on test-taking strategy. The students have not learned a language skill; instead they have been taught through the test-taking strategies. Thus, their language ability is not developed.Due to the international reputation, TOEIC score has been used by many business organizations in a decision making process involving, staff hiring and promotion. Similar problem regarding negative washback exists in the business context where the staff who pose high score in TOEIC test cannot communicate appropriately. This can cause the vital problem for their future career where English is a means of communication in their organization.
In contrast, there is a positive washback on the test-takers extrinsic motivation to gain the high score. This group of people therefore pays more attention on the practice of the language and invests more time and money on the test preparation. They are exposed and interact with the target language more (Nall, 2003).
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