| Practical English Test for Colleges (PRETCO) is a large-scale national standardized EFL test for the students of higher vocational colleges, postsecondary specialized colleges, and colleges for adults. Although some teachers from higher vocational colleges (HVC) gave some suggestions about its testing methods and contents etc, few of them have done the empirical studies. This paper aims for a preliminary research of PRETCO washback based on previous studies from home and abroad and their research methods and models. It attempts to explore the aspects of practical English learning of students from HVCs influenced by PRETCO, and the nature of the washback. It also intends to bring beneficial reference for promoting English teaching of higher vocational colleges by finding the ways to enhance PRETCO positive washback on practical English learning.The research involves 501 students from five HVCs in Chongqing, and it resorts to three research methods including questionnaire, classroom observations and interviews.The research finds out that PRETCO exerts more positive washback than negative one on practical English learning, but the intensity of impact differs among different HVCs. The results show that PRETCO exerts more influence on the breadth and depth of practical English learning and students'leaning objective than other aspects of English learning. It also indicates that PRETCO spoken English test implemented recently does not have much impact on practical English learning because of its unpopularity, and that students'learning appears to be utilitarian. Based on the results reported in the study, the writer analyses the factors inducing negative washback and puts forward some suggestions for promoting positive one, such as converging two learning goals, improving the authenticity and practicality of the test, providing more detailed feedback of scores, and adjusting improper administration policies.
|
PDF Full Text Request