A Study On The Washback Of Grammar Gap-Filling In NMET(National Version) On English Teaching And Learning In Senior High School

Washback refers to the influence of language testing on language teaching and learning.The intensity of washback is related to the social weight of a test.The more important a test is to the examinees,the greater the washback will be to the teaching and learning.Grammar gap-filling is a compulsory task type in NMET(National Version),which can exert intense washback on English teaching and learning in senior high school.However,the existing research on washback mostly focuses on professional language proficiency test,and the research on washback of NMET is rare.Therefore,exploring the washback of grammar gap-filling in NMET on senior high school teaching and learning not only enriches the washback theory,but also has certain guiding significance for senior high school teaching and learning practice.This study investigated 20 senior high school English teachers and 160 students in by questionnaires.With assistance of teacher and student interviews,it explored senior high school English teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards grammar gap-filling in NMET,washback of grammar gap-filling on teaching and learning,and the differences of washback between different grades of teachers and students.The results show that,firstly,English teachers and students in senior high schools hold a positive and supportive attitude towards grammar gap-filling in NMET.They think that grammar gap-filling can better test students’ ability to apply grammar in context.Secondly,grammar gap-filling in NMET has exerted both positive and negative washback on senior high school English teaching and learning.In general,the positive washback is intenser than the negative one.It is manifested that grammar gap-filling makes teachers and students pay more attention to the teaching and learning of context.Finally,there are differences in washback of grammar gap-filling in NMET between teachers and students from Senior 2 and Senior 3.The intensity of washback exerted by grammar gap-filling on Senior 3 English teaching and learning is stronger than that of Senior 2.And,compared with Senior 2,grammar gap-filling in NMET exerted more negative washback on teachers and students of Senior 3.Based on the research results,this study puts forward some suggestions on the reform of NMET,the design of grammar gap-filling,adjustment of teacher evaluation system and grammar teaching in senior high schools,in order to further improve the positive washback of grammar gap-filling on the English teaching and learning.