Melbourne Graduate School of Education - Theses

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The washback of the TOEFL iBT on English language programs in Vietnam

Barnes, Melissa Marie ( 2010)

Washback, or the influence of testing on teaching and learning, has received considerable attention in language testing research over the past twenty years. It is widely argued that testing, particularly high-stakes testing, exerts a powerful influence on both teachers and learners, whether intended or unintended, positive or negative. This study investigated the washback of a high-stakes English language proficiency test, the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT), on general English and TOEFL iBT preparation courses in Vietnam. Vietnam, a developing country whose educational philosophies differ from those underpinning the TOEFL iBT, provided a unique context to explore the test's washback. Four teachers were observed and interviewed and teaching materials were collected from four educational institutions in Vietnam. The study revealed that the TOEFL iBT influenced both what and how the teachers taught, particularly in TOEFL iBT preparation courses. The findings of this study have important implications for teaching and learning in Vietnam.