A Study On The Washback Effect Of NMET On Senior High School English Teaching And Learning

Washback effect,namely post-effect of tests,refers to the influence that language tests have on language teaching and learning.Many researchers abroad have carried out a lot of theoretical and empirical researches,whereas there are not enough empirical researches on washback effect conducted at home.Especially,the investigation into NMET washback effect which has influenced the English teaching in senior high school is insufficient.Using the methods of questionnaire survey,interviews and classroom observation,as well as referring to the present washback effect literature,especially the research methods and the research models,the study is carried out focusing on English teachers‘ perception of the washback effect of NMET in high schools and the NMET washback effect on Senior High School English teaching and learning in Liaoning Province.Two questions are investigated in the research:1.What is high school English teachers‘ perception of the washback effect of NMET?2.What are the characteristic washback effects of the NMET on Senior High School English teaching and learning?The results of data analysis and discussion indicate that washback has both positive and negative effects and the positive effects outweigh the negative ones.On one hand,NMET can guarantee that the teaching tasks are completed properly,and stimulate teachers‘ activeness,thus making students work harder.On the other hand,as a consequence of the ?teaching to test? phenomenon,teachers spare no efforts to prepare their students for NMET and students are forced to be absorbed in NMET.That brings anxiety and pressure both to teachers and students and,to some extent,distorts students‘ English learning.In order to overcome the negative effects,suggestive discussions have been made on the reform of NMET and high school English teaching and learning.Some suggestions which are based on the findings of the survey are put forward in the hope of taking advantage of NMET positive washback effect while minimizing its negative effect.