Negative Washback of 12th Grade Baccalaureate English Language Exam in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26750/paperKeywords:
Negative Washback, 12th Grade English Language Exam, Test Technique.Abstract
The current study deals with the phenomenon of washback ‘the effect of examination on teaching/learning’, especially the negative type of washback. It is thought that the 12th Grade Baccalaureate English Language Exam washback replaced teaching to ‘teaching to the test’; teaching is directed towards passing the test rather than learning the target language. The current English language teaching in Kurdistan Region/Iraq has changed to fulfill the final exam demands. This study investigated the negative type of washback in that teaching/learning context. To this end, data was collected from both English language teachers through questionnaire, and by analyzing the 12th grade English language exam sheets. Results obtained show that the 12th Grade Exam negative washback, which occurred due to the testing technique type, affected the teachers/learners to shift their focus from learning the language to prepare the students to pass the exam. It was also found that there was a strong correlation between English language classroom teaching and assessment practices. The pedagogical implication of the study is that there is a problem which needs to be urgently handled. It is recommended that the test should use a different technique to assess the participants’ writing, speaking and listening skills besides their reading skill and grammatical knowledge.
References
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Andrews, S. (2004) ‘Washback and Innovation’ in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp. 37-50.
Bachman, L. F. (1990) Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bachman, L. F. and Palmer, A. S. (1996). Language testing in practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bailey, K.M. (1996) ‘Working for washback: A review of the washback concept in language testing.’ Language Testing, 13(3), pp. 257-279 [online]. Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0594/c0f527911973cae24cb910a0283ecf8f6d7d.pdf
Baker, R. (1997) Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory in Test Analysis. Language Testing Update Special Report No. 2. Lancaster: University of Lancaster.
Biggs, J. B. (1995) ‘Assumptions underlying new approaches to educational assessment: Implications for Hong Kong.’ 課程論壇.
Brown, H. D. (2004) Language Assessment, Principles Children Classroom Practices. London: Longman.
Brown, J. D. (2005) Testing in language programs: A comprehensive guide to English language assessment. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cheng, L. (2005) Changing Language Teaching Through Language Testing: A Washback Study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cheng, L., Watanabe, Y. & Curtis, A. (Eds.), 2004. Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
Cheng, L. and Curtis, A. (2004) 'Washback or Backwash: A review of the impact of testing on teaching and learning' in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp.3-19.
Choi, I.-C. (2008) 'The impact of EFL testing on EFL education in Korea.' Language Testing, 25(1), pp.39-62. doi: 10.1177/0265532207083744
Cholis, H. W. N. and Rizqi, F. (2018) 'Senior High School English Teachers’ Perceptions on a High-stakes Test (SBMPTN): A Washback Study.' International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 6(3), pp. 47-52.
Davies, A. (1990) Principles of Language Testing. Oxford: Blackwell.
Faqe, C. K., Moheddin, K. R. and Kakamad, K. K. (2016). Reducing Test Anxiety among 12th Grade Students: Iraqi Kurdistan Region/Soran City as an Example. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(27), pp. 69-75 [online]. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1115912.pdf (Accessed 20/03/2020)
Fulcher, G. (2010) Practical language testing. London: Hodder Education.
Fulcher, G. and Davidson, F. (2007) Language testing and assessment: an advanced resource book. Routledge.
Hughes, A. 1(989) Testing for language teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hughes, A. (2003) Testing for language teachers. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kılıçkaya, F. (2016) 'Washback effects of a high-stakes exam on lower secondary school English teachers’ practices in the classroom.' LUBLIN STUDIES IN MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE 40(1), pp. 116-134 [online]. Available at: http://www.lsmll.umcs.lublin.pl
Larsson, M., and Olin‐Scheller, C. (2020). Adaptation and resistance: washback effects of the national test on upper secondary Swedish teaching. The Curriculum Journal.
McNamara, T. (2000). Language Testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Messick, S. (1996) ‘Validity and washback in language testing.’ Language Testing,13, pp. 241–256.
Paker, T. (2013) 'The backwash effect of the test items in the achievement exams in preparatory classes.' Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, pp.1463-1471. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com.
Pan, Y. C. (2009). A review of washback and its pedagogical implications. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 25(4), p. 257-263.
Pearson, I. (1988) ‘Tests as levers for change.’ in Chamberlain, D. and Baumgardner, R. (eds.) ESP in the Classroom: Practice and Evaluation. ELT Document 128. London: Modern English Publications.
Shohamy, E. (1992) 'Beyond proficiency testing: A diagnostic feedback testing model for assessing foreign language learning.' The Modern Language Journal, vol.76, pp. 513.
Shohamy, E., Donitsa-Schmidt, S. and Ferman, I. (1996) 'Test impact revisited: Washback effect over time.' Language Testing, 13(3), [online]. Available at: https://doi. org/10.1177/026553229601300305
Spolsky, B. (1994) 'The examination-classroom backwash cycle: Some historical cases.' Bringing about change in language education, pp. 55-66.
Sukyadi, D. & R. Mardiani (2011) 'The washback effect of the English National Examination (ENE) on English teachers’ classroom teaching and students’ learning.' Kata, 13(1), pp. 96-111 [online]. Available at: http://kata.petra.ac.id/index.php/ing/article/view/18214/18090
Taylor, T. (2005). Washback and impact. ELT Journal, vol.59(2), pp.154–155, [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eltj/cci030
Wall, D. (1997) ‘Impact and washback in language testing.’ in Clapham, C. and Corson, D. (eds.) Encyclopedia of Language and Education, vol. 7: Language Testing and Assessment. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 291–302.
Watanabe, Y. (2004). 'Methodology in Washback Studies' in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp. 19-37.
Zhan, Y., & Andrews, S. (2014). Washback effects from a high-stakes examination on out-of-class English learning: Insights from possible self-theories. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, vol.21, no.1, pp. 71-89. doi: 10.1080/0969594X.2012.757546
Andrews, S. (2004) ‘Washback and Innovation’ in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp. 37-50.
Bachman, L. F. (1990) Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bachman, L. F. and Palmer, A. S. (1996). Language testing in practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Bailey, K.M. (1996) ‘Working for washback: A review of the washback concept in language testing.’ Language Testing, 13(3), pp. 257-279 [online]. Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0594/c0f527911973cae24cb910a0283ecf8f6d7d.pdf
Baker, R. (1997) Classical Test Theory and Item Response Theory in Test Analysis. Language Testing Update Special Report No. 2. Lancaster: University of Lancaster.
Biggs, J. B. (1995) ‘Assumptions underlying new approaches to educational assessment: Implications for Hong Kong.’ 課程論壇.
Brown, H. D. (2004) Language Assessment, Principles Children Classroom Practices. London: Longman.
Brown, J. D. (2005) Testing in language programs: A comprehensive guide to English language assessment. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cheng, L. (2005) Changing Language Teaching Through Language Testing: A Washback Study. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Cheng, L., Watanabe, Y. & Curtis, A. (Eds.), 2004. Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
Cheng, L. and Curtis, A. (2004) 'Washback or Backwash: A review of the impact of testing on teaching and learning' in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp.3-19.
Choi, I.-C. (2008) 'The impact of EFL testing on EFL education in Korea.' Language Testing, 25(1), pp.39-62. doi: 10.1177/0265532207083744
Cholis, H. W. N. and Rizqi, F. (2018) 'Senior High School English Teachers’ Perceptions on a High-stakes Test (SBMPTN): A Washback Study.' International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 6(3), pp. 47-52.
Davies, A. (1990) Principles of Language Testing. Oxford: Blackwell.
Faqe, C. K., Moheddin, K. R. and Kakamad, K. K. (2016). Reducing Test Anxiety among 12th Grade Students: Iraqi Kurdistan Region/Soran City as an Example. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(27), pp. 69-75 [online]. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1115912.pdf (Accessed 20/03/2020)
Fulcher, G. (2010) Practical language testing. London: Hodder Education.
Fulcher, G. and Davidson, F. (2007) Language testing and assessment: an advanced resource book. Routledge.
Hughes, A. 1(989) Testing for language teachers. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hughes, A. (2003) Testing for language teachers. 2nd edn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Kılıçkaya, F. (2016) 'Washback effects of a high-stakes exam on lower secondary school English teachers’ practices in the classroom.' LUBLIN STUDIES IN MODERN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE 40(1), pp. 116-134 [online]. Available at: http://www.lsmll.umcs.lublin.pl
Larsson, M., and Olin‐Scheller, C. (2020). Adaptation and resistance: washback effects of the national test on upper secondary Swedish teaching. The Curriculum Journal.
McNamara, T. (2000). Language Testing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Messick, S. (1996) ‘Validity and washback in language testing.’ Language Testing,13, pp. 241–256.
Paker, T. (2013) 'The backwash effect of the test items in the achievement exams in preparatory classes.' Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 70, pp.1463-1471. Available at: www.sciencedirect.com.
Pan, Y. C. (2009). A review of washback and its pedagogical implications. VNU Journal of Foreign Studies, 25(4), p. 257-263.
Pearson, I. (1988) ‘Tests as levers for change.’ in Chamberlain, D. and Baumgardner, R. (eds.) ESP in the Classroom: Practice and Evaluation. ELT Document 128. London: Modern English Publications.
Shohamy, E. (1992) 'Beyond proficiency testing: A diagnostic feedback testing model for assessing foreign language learning.' The Modern Language Journal, vol.76, pp. 513.
Shohamy, E., Donitsa-Schmidt, S. and Ferman, I. (1996) 'Test impact revisited: Washback effect over time.' Language Testing, 13(3), [online]. Available at: https://doi. org/10.1177/026553229601300305
Spolsky, B. (1994) 'The examination-classroom backwash cycle: Some historical cases.' Bringing about change in language education, pp. 55-66.
Sukyadi, D. & R. Mardiani (2011) 'The washback effect of the English National Examination (ENE) on English teachers’ classroom teaching and students’ learning.' Kata, 13(1), pp. 96-111 [online]. Available at: http://kata.petra.ac.id/index.php/ing/article/view/18214/18090
Taylor, T. (2005). Washback and impact. ELT Journal, vol.59(2), pp.154–155, [online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eltj/cci030
Wall, D. (1997) ‘Impact and washback in language testing.’ in Clapham, C. and Corson, D. (eds.) Encyclopedia of Language and Education, vol. 7: Language Testing and Assessment. Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 291–302.
Watanabe, Y. (2004). 'Methodology in Washback Studies' in Watanabe, Y., Curtis, A. and Cheng, L. (eds.) Washback in Language Testing: Research Contexts and Methods. London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, pp. 19-37.
Zhan, Y., & Andrews, S. (2014). Washback effects from a high-stakes examination on out-of-class English learning: Insights from possible self-theories. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, vol.21, no.1, pp. 71-89. doi: 10.1080/0969594X.2012.757546
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Published
2020-08-25
How to Cite
Omar, J. A. (2020). Negative Washback of 12th Grade Baccalaureate English Language Exam in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Journal of University of Raparin, 7(3), 672–700. https://doi.org/10.26750/paper
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Humanities & Social Sciences
