The Washback Effect Of NAETI On Translation Teaching And Learning

Washback, as an important criterion of language testing, has become one of theresearch focuses gradually in the field of language testing and language teaching.Washback can be considered as the influence on teaching and learning by a languagetesting. It’s no doubt that any test, no matter its scale and importance, will bringsome effect on teaching and learning more or less. Such influence can be positive orbeneficial, and also can be negative or harmful. Although it is a relatively newresearch field in language testing, many theoretical and empirical studies have beendone for gaining insights into this complicated phenomenon.As professional translators are in great demand in recent years, the Ministry ofEducation of China rolled out National Accreditation Examinations for Translatorsand Interpreters. This kind of test is a large-scale professional and specializedtranslation test. It aims at assessing the candidates’competence for translation andinterpretation and certifying whether these candidates are ready to reachcorresponding levels. However, the studies on the washback effect of translation testhave not been investigated emphatically up till now.Based on Alderson & Wall’s Washback Hypothesis, Hughes’PPP Model,Bailey’s Basic Model of Washback and the present situation of translation teachingand learning in China, this thesis focuses on the washback effect of NationalAccreditation Examinations for Translators and Interpreters (NAETI). This studyapplies three kinds of instruments: questionnaires, classroom observations andinterviews to have investigation into 13 translation teachers and 107 English majorswho come from Xvzhou Normal University and China University of Mining andTechnology.The research results show that 1) NAETI does produce influence on translationteaching and learning. 2) This test brings influence on a variety of aspects. Theintensity of washback is different in degree and the nature of washback also differsfrom each aspect. 3) Teachers and students have more rational perceptions on NAETI preparation courses. 4) There are some problems in test design of NAETI. 5)Compared with CET and TEM, fewer students take NAETI. 6) Translationcompetence has received more attention. Based on the preliminary research ofwashback effect on translation teaching and learning, this paper wishes to give someappropriate suggestions to improve the quality of translation teaching and learning aswell as provide some valuable references on the reform of NAETI.