A Study Of Washback Effects Of JSEAGT Writing Test On Junior English Writing Teaching And Learning

There do exist some evidences to support that tests have washback effects on teaching and learning. Nowadays the extensive use of test marks for numerous educational and social goals in society has made washback effects a distinct phenomenon.As is known to all, English testing and English teaching are two inseparable factors in the process of teaching English. English writing test is an essential means to examine the comprehensive competence of using language of students. Writing teaching in junior middle is not only the key point but also the teaching difficulty.Based on the research achievements of washback effects of language testing both at home and abroad, this thesis is aimed to study the washback effect of JSEAGT writing on teaching and learning in junior high school mainly under the framework model of Alderson, Wall and Hughes. According to the current situation of English writing teaching in junior high school, this thesis proposes preliminary research questions. By employing the main four methodological techniques: document, questionnaires,classroom observation and interview in two sampled schools in Ganzhou area, one certain urban middle school in Ganzhou city and a rural one in Ganxian, the thesis tries to uncover the washback effect of JSEAGT writing on teaching and learning in junior high school. 148 students, 156 teachers and 4 proposition experts are totally invited to help complete the research. The thesis analyzes the questionnaires through descriptive statistics, quantitative analysis and Excel software; meanwhile, record and video are used as tools for interview and classroom observation respectively. In the view of the teacher’teaching and student’ learning, the thesis explores the washback effect of JSEAGT writing on teaching and learning in junior high school.The findings of the research show that firstly there indeed exist significant washback effects in JSEAGT writing test, which is consistent with the hypothesis. Secondly, this research indicates that washback effect of JSEAGT writing test is quite complex. What’s more, writing test in JSEAGT has an influence on both teaching and learning in a various aspects. It affects on teaching and learning in the following aspects including approaches,goal, concept, attitude and time allotment. Last but not least, JSEAGT exerts more positive washback effects than negative ones generally.In view of the above findings, the present thesis supposes to improve the positive effects of JSEAGT from the following aspects. 1) Teachers should renew their teaching approaches and concepts. 2) Schools are supposed to carry out school-based teacher training to enhance the professional development of English teachers. 3) Do pay much attention to the students with English learning difficulty. 4) Establish a new set of comprehensive and authoritative English teaching evaluation mechanism.