March 2009 home | PDF | SWF |

Title
The Effect of Coaching on Test-Takers Attitudes toward and Performance on C-Test

Author
Mohammad Rahimi.

Bio Data:
Mohammad Rahimi is assistant professor at the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics in Shiraz University, Iran. His areas of interest are language testing and writing. He teaches language testing, research methods and writing.

Abstract
Coaching, or teaching to the test, is a method of creating positive attitudes towards a new test in language learners. This positive attitude can increase the validity of the test by helping the learners perform better on it. The aim of this study was to see if it was possible to create positive attitudes in Iranian EFL learners by familiarizing them with the format of a new test, C-test, and practicing with it. It was further attempted to see if this positive attitude would have any effect on the subjects' performance on the test. To this end, two parallel C-tests (one as the pre-test and the other as the post test), along with a questionnaire inquiring the subjects' attitude toward the test, were given to 48 Iranian EFL learners pre-test. After about one month of coaching and practicing with different C-tests, the post C-test and the same questionnaire given to the students at the beginning of the experiment were given to them. The results of the study showed that, as a result of coaching, the subjects' attitude changed positively toward the test. Furthermore, as a result of developing this positive attitude, the subjects had a better performance on the test.

Key words: Attitude, Coaching, C-test, Washback

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