The Sociocultural Activity of High Stakes Standardised Language Testing: TOEIC Washback in a South Korean Context

Description

This book explores the influence of high stakes standardised testing within the context of South Korea. South Korea is regarded as a shining example of success in educational achievement and, as this book reveals, pressurised standardised testing has been a major contributing factor to its success. This unique country provides an excellent setting from which to explore the powerful relationship that exists between testing and learning and can advance our understanding of which factors and test conditions will positively and negatively influence learning. This book follows the test activity of a group of Korean university students preparing for the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) and posits a revised model of the influence of testing on learning. It calls for a more socially situated view of tests and test-takers considered in relation to the sociocultural, historical, political and economic contexts in which they are embedded. Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 1-6 South Korea (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 7-17 The TOEIC (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 19-35 Washback (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 37-71 Learning: A Social Perspective (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 73-102 Case Studies: Overview of Student Test Activity (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 103-114 Student Test Activity: Majors Other Than English (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 115-156 Student Test Activity: English Majors (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 157-191 Washback Activity: At the Micro Level (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 193-215 Washback Activity: At the Macro Level (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 217-230 Expanding the Concept of Washback (Dawn Karen Booth)....Pages 231-243 Back Matter ....Pages 245-256