A Study On The Washback Effect Of Classroom Test On Higher Vocational College English Teaching And Learning

Washback refers to the impact of the test on teaching and learning. As an important research topic in the field of education, washback causes a lot of attention from scholars of this field in recent years. And scholars carry out a series of researches which has deepened people’s understanding of test washback, and facilitated the English teaching and learning to some extent.Classroom test, as a means of teaching, is often used in English teaching. However, its importance has not been taken seriously by the teachers and students. Few scholars pay attention to the washback of classroom test.Therefore, based on the research results of washback at home and abroad, and according to Alderson and Wall’s Washback hypothesis and Hughes’ Washback Model, this research takes questionnaire, interview and classroom tests as research instruments, and takes100freshmen whose NMET Scores have no significant difference and4college English teachers in Wuhan Engineering Institute as research participants, aiming to explore the washback effect of classroom test on Higher Vocational College English teaching and learning.The results of the research answered three research questions. The results of four classroom tests and a final test show that the experimental class students’ English proficiency has significantly improved; the results of the questionnaire indicate that students realize the importance of the classroom test and its washback effect, and admit the classroom test can promote their English learning to a certain extent; the results of the four interviews reveal that teachers pay much attention to the classroom test and its washback effect, and believe the classroom test is playing an important role in promoting the college English teaching. This study analyzes and compares four classroom tests and the final grade in two classes, combined with the results of questionnaires and interviews, affirming the positive washback effect of classroom tests, while admitting some negative washback effect does exist.This study enriches the qualitative and quantitative data of this field and has a good effect on HVCs English teaching and learning.