An imperative of modern life is to be able to communicate effectively with those from other
countries and cultures. One of the results this creates is the desire to learn other languages.
Concomitant with this is language testing. This can be in the form of student achievement
assessments; diagnostic tests to find out what students need to learn; aptitude tests to judge
learner abilities to learn certain skills; and proficiency tests to analyze a person’s current
language ability.
This paper is concerned with the Test of English for International Communications (TOEIC),
which is one of the most widely used English language proficiency tests in Japan and South
Korea, and is utilized to a lesser degree in a variety of countries worldwide (ETS 2005: 4).
The TOEIC was designed to judge the proficiency of language learners in a business
environment. It is claimed to be applied “as a benchmark for employment, promotion,
overseas business travel, and transfer in workplaces” (In’nami and Koizumi 2011: 131).
Educational Testing Service (ETS) designed the TOEIC on commission from the Japanese
government to aid decision-making about Japanese workers (Stoyoff 2009: 28). It is widely
used there, and has become popular with South Korean companies, universities and other
organizations. Due to its popularity, a range of test-preparatory education has grown in both
countries.
In South Korea, numerous hagwons (private institutions) offer TOEIC test-preparation
courses for businesspeople, students and graduates seeking to increase their employability. In
addition TOEIC test-preparation or incorporation of TOEIC test scores is often a part of a
university’s curriculum. Colleges and universities possibly include the TOEIC or TOEIC
preparation classes for a multitude of reasons such as; advertising that the education provided
takes globalization into account; as a tool for furthering comprehension of English; or as a
method to improve student employability. Given the widespread use of the TOEIC in South
Korea, this paper will examine two pressing concerns of how studying for the TOEIC in
South Korean universities affects student motivation to learn English, and whether or not this
test-preparation affects test validity.
In order to understand TOEIC impact on Korean university student performance, this paper
begins with a review of current language testing research. It will then examine the educational culture and sociological factors that affect language testing in South Korea. This
will be followed by an overview of the TOEIC test.
Following the literature review is the research methodology conducted to judge the impact of
the TOEIC. The purpose of the research was to determine if the TOEIC test has any
washback effects in the South Korean university context. Mixed-methods research was
conducted at a four year South Korean university. A quantitative survey was given to 104
students in their required first year of TOEIC study, together with 23 students studying an
optional second year. In addition, a qualitative survey was administered to a separate group
of 17 second year students who had completed their first year of TOEIC instruction.
Teachers play a large role in test-preparation classes. A series of class observations were
carried out to establish variances in the ways in which individual teachers approach TOEIC
instruction. This permitted an examination of the impact of the TOEIC test on their teaching
habits. Finally, this paper will analyze the data, and the implications for the TOEIC test in
the South Korean university context.