Research On The Practicability And Backwash Effect Of Toeic Test In College English Testing

As China’s opening and reform policy deepens, the importance of the English language becomes self-evident. This fact highlights the embarrassment resulting from our traditional teaching approach in the English education---the so-called "dumb English, good grades but poor competence". Well aware of such a problem, the educational authorities and experts have made a number of proposals concerning the English teaching reform. However, due to the current high employment pressure, and the need to pass the state administered entrance examinations and other nationwide tests, the education system characterized by the test-oriented teaching and learning will not undergo fundamental changes in a short run. Consequently, the English teaching reform can not be expected to find a quick solution.Admitting the dilemma, some scholars, based on reversed thinking, propose the possibility of designing a test or developing a testing and evaluation system whereby the learners’practical ability in using the English language can be properly measured, given the fact that that tests are a fact of life. If such a system can be developed or is available, the scholars argue, the majority of English teachers in China will change the test-oriented teaching approach. Thus, we can kill two birds with one stone:while preparing our students for the test, we can also improve their communicative ability in English. Such a scenario is described by the famous language testing experts---J.Charles Alderson as backwash effect.So the next question is what kind of English test system can be regarded as a good one? The answers are reliability, validity and practicability. However, the current mainstream English tests such as:PETS and CET, although highly recognized in society and serving as a kind of yardstick for the recruitment policies of some businesses, yet still have some deficiencies in assessing and evaluating college students’ practical English communicative ability in terms of reliability, validity and practicability, and sometimes fail to reflect the examinees’English communication ability, leading to the result that perspective employees might not be competent in English language ability required in their future work.Under such circumstances, the TOEIC test of American ETS emerges as a valid and effective option. But, to what extent does the TOEIC test of American ETS live up to the criteria of reliability, validity and practicability? This thesis, based on an empirical research, provides some related data and materials to prove the reliability and validity of TOEIC test, and explores the practicability and backwash effect of TOEIC test with evidence from some first-hand teaching experience and investigation analysis. A questionnaire survey was conducted in4classes of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology (Nanchang Campus). The result of this survey is interpreted as having implications for the teaching and learning of English in a significant sense. In the light of the research finding, the author makes following conclusions and suggestions for educational department to improve college students’ practical English communicative ability by promoting TOEIC test:1) TOEIC does have backwash effect on college English teachers, assuming they teach what to be tested so as to enable students to get a high mark in TOEIC test. Some college teachers begin to change their teaching methodology and have improved their students’ practical English communicative abilities;2) Although TOEIC test is rather a valid and reliable evaluation system, and does help to improve students’practical English skills, yet it is too expensive compared with CET or TEM tests, because it is developed and administered by ETS, USA, which is the main obstacle to its application in Chinese colleges and universities;3) Compared with other English exams, TOEIC is not as well-known as TOFEL, IELTS, or Cambridge Business English, thus is less popular and unlikely to take the place of traditional English unified test in a short term without the endorsement of government authorities and college English teachers.Based on the above findings, it is suggested that our education departments should think about promoting TOEIC test in order to improve students’ English communicative ability, and to meet the requirements of enterprises. After all it is more cost-effective than developing a scientific English testing and evaluation system of our own.Needless to say, there are many deficiencies in this thesis. For one thing, the questionnaire samples are too small to represent a wide section of students; for another, the validity of questionnaire is hard to control because of the author and respondents’ subjectivity etc. However, this thesis does provide some insight into the validity and practicability of TOEIC test. It is hoped that this research can attract college English teachers’ attention to TOEIC testing and evaluation system and its backwash effect, and would provide some evidence for the government to consider the possibility of adopting TOEIC test as an alternative to supplement present problematic English testing as a way to deepen English teaching reform.