A Study Of The Washback Of PRETCO On English Autonomous Learning In HVCs

Linguists call the impact that language test exerts on language teaching and learning as washback.Early in 1980s,many educators extensively discussed effects of washback,which soon attracted attention from linguists.But systematic researches on washback didn't start until 1990s.Many scholars at home and abroad conducted numerous theoretical and empirical researches on washback,which enriched relative theories of language test and promoted language teaching and learning.Considering there's few studies on the washback of PRETCO on English autonomous learning in HVCs,based on previous researches from home and abroad,together with the author's teaching practice,this paper tries to answer three questions:(1)How is the PRETCO washback on English autonomous learning in HVCs?(2)To what aspects does PRETCO affect English autonomous learning in HVCs?(3)How to promote the positive washback thus to facilitate English autonomous learning in HVCs?Based on Alderson and Wall's washback hypotheses and the author's English teaching practice in HVCs,this thesis takes questionnaire and interview as its two research instruments,960 sophomore students who just attended PRETCO in June and with different majors selected from 12 higher vocational colleges located at different areas in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are involved in this research,including the following six aspects:learning motivation,learning time allotment,learning content,learning strategies,learning materials,the washback nature and intensity.With the cooperation of teachers and students in the investigated colleges,the data were collected at the end of September,2016,and then processed and analyzed with the EXCEL in October,aims to understand the PRETCO washback on English autonomous learning in HVCs,and make suggestions to improve it and produce some reference value for PRETCO reformation.This research finds out that 1)PRETCO exerts both positive washback and negative washback on English autonomous learning in HVCs,but the former one has outweighed the negative one in general.2)PRETCO influences on various aspects of English autonomous learning in HVCs,such as learning motivation,learning content,learning strategies and learning materials.Suggestions for improving the positive washback that facilitate English autonomous learning in HVCs are as following:the test authorities should make necessary reform on the PRETCO;the English teachers in HVCs should adjust the teaching contents and teaching methods accordingly;students should hold correct attitude toward PRETCO and build up a good habit of English self-learning.