The Study On The Backwash Effects Of Business English Intensive Reading Test Designed Based On Bec

Language testing,ever since its rising up in 1960s,has developed into an independent discipline today with its own researching field and methods.In the recent decades,the study of washback effect has become a focus in language testing field.Washback is defined as the influence of language testing on teaching and learning.It can be either positive or negative, beneficial or harmful.A number of studies in foreign and domestic testing field have been carried on washback both from theory to practice,yielding deep theoretical knowledge and directing teaching and learning as well.In the past decade in China,the research of washback has been accumulated some experience with some empirical studies.But most of these studies are focused on the national testing,and few studies are concentrated on the washback of a specific course on teaching and learning,especially,the new added major------business English by the Ministry of Education.Its means of testing fall behind and just tinker on the testing system of the original English major.So it is necessary to design a test which can reflect the requirements and characteristics of the teaching and learning of major business English.And BEC is a typical test which is based on the communicative competence and the theory of need analysis.This paper intends to study the washback effects of the business English intensive reading test designed based on communicative features of BEC from an empirical view by referring to the research results of both foreign and domestic scholars,and combining the teaching practice of business English teaching.The basic theories of the thesis are the relationship between testing and teaching &learning,the features of communicative testing and the main theories of designing a test. Under these theories,the business English intensive reading test paper is designed based on the communicative features of BEC,the teaching program of the business English intensive reading and the theories of the authenticity,communicative competence and need analysis.The quantitative and qualitative analysis methods are adopted to analyze the reliability and validity of the test paper and data were collected from 180 business English students and 15 business English teachers of three universities in Heilongjiang province through questionnaires, interviews and observations analyzed by the quantitative and qualitative analysis methods together.The result indicates that the business English intensive reading test designed based on communicative features of BEC produces positive washback and the intended washback have been realized effectively in teaching and learning practice.The test is also welcomed by teachers and students because it is based on the theories of communicative competence and need analysis.It can not only check the knowledge that the students have learnt but also examine and alert the students to train their communicative ability in real situation.So the study is a beneficial exploration for establishing the testing system of business English.