scholarly journals DECONSTRUCTING COMPREHENSIBILITY

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talia Isaacs ◽  
Pavel Trofimovich
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Oral Proficiency ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Esl Teachers ◽  
Lexical Richness ◽  
Ability Levels ◽  
Communicative Success ◽  
High Level ◽  
International English

Comprehensibility, a major concept in second language (L2) pronunciation research that denotes listeners’ perceptions of how easily they understand L2 speech, is central to interlocutors’ communicative success in real-world contexts. Although comprehensibility has been modeled in several L2 oral proficiency scales—for example, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)—shortcomings of existing scales (e.g., vague descriptors) reflect limited empirical evidence as to which linguistic aspects influence listeners’ judgments of L2 comprehensibility at different ability levels. To address this gap, a mixed-methods approach was used in the present study to gain a deeper understanding of the linguistic aspects underlying listeners’ L2 comprehensibility ratings. First, speech samples of 40 native French learners of English were analyzed using 19 quantitative speech measures, including segmental, suprasegmental, fluency, lexical, grammatical, and discourse-level variables. These measures were then correlated with 60 native English listeners’ scalar judgments of the speakers’ comprehensibility. Next, three English as a second language (ESL) teachers provided introspective reports on the linguistic aspects of speech that they attended to when judging L2 comprehensibility. Following data triangulation, five speech measures were identified that clearly distinguished between L2 learners at different comprehensibility levels. Lexical richness and fluency measures differentiated between low-level learners; grammatical and discourse-level measures differentiated between high-level learners; and word stress errors discriminated between learners of all levels.

scholarly journals ‘Remark or retake’? A study of candidate performance in IELTS and perceptions towards test failure

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Pearson
Keyword(s):  
Performance Feedback ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Writing Assessment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
International English

Abstract It is becoming increasingly important for individuals for whom English is a second language to demonstrate their linguistic credentials for academic, work and employment purposes. One option is to undertake International English Language Testing System (IELTS), which involves attempting to meet the linguistic entrance criteria set by a gatekeeping institution in the skills of listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Yet limited information is available in the public domain concerning the success of test-takers in meeting cut-off criteria set by the 10,000 or so organisations that utilise IELTS. The present study analyses the relationship between the test results and stated band score objectives of a cohort of 600 IELTS candidates, who shared their results on a social networking platform. It was uncovered that more test-takers failed to meet their band score goals (n = 281) than achieved them (n = 245), with many requiring high level linguistic goals to maximise their prospects in immigration systems. Thematic analysis was employed to explore the seldom-heard perspectives of the test-takers who missed their targets, and thereby ‘failed’ the IELTS test. Far more candidates held perspectives that constituted a rejection of their overall or sub-test score in comparison with those who were accepting of their results. Candidates’ incredulity was notably acute concerning the accuracy of Speaking and Writing assessment, likely fuelled by a mistrust in single examiner marking and a lack of detailed test performance feedback to explain what went wrong.

scholarly journals What kind of interaction receives high and low ratings in Oral Proficiency Interviews?

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Seedhouse
Keyword(s):  
Conversation Analysis ◽  
Identity Construction ◽  
English Language ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Oral Proficiency ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Speaking Test ◽  
Lexical Choice ◽  
Oral Proficiency Interviews ◽  
International English

AbstractBased on a Conversation Analysis (CA) of a corpus of Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPI), the study asks what kind of interaction receives high and low ratings in OPIs. The discussion focuses on issues of interactional organisation, considering turn-taking, sequence, repair and topic development in relation to candidate scores. The study presents findings of two funded studies of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Speaking Test (IST), which is one part of IELTS, a major international English proficiency test.The article explains how interaction in the IST is organised in interactional terms and how this organisation generates opportunities to differentiate high- and low-scoring interaction. The study then lists the interactional characteristics of high-scoring and low-scoring tests, based on an inductive search through the database and analysis of the micro-interaction. Extracts are presented to support characterisations. Differences in score correlate to the following interactional differences in Parts 1 and 3 of the IST: ability to answer the question, engage with and develop a topic coherently, amount of trouble and repair, lexical choice, and identity construction. In Part 2 of the IST, length of turn may also be related to score.

IELTS READING AND SOME TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE IELTS READING SKILLS FOR STUDENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Thi Bac Binh ◽  
Dinh Thi Kieu Trinh
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
International English

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is recognized as an accountable tool to assess whether aperson is able to study or train in English. Every year, thousandsof students sit for IELTS. However, the number of those who arerecognized to be capable enough to take a course in English issomehow limited, especially for those who are not major inEnglish at their universities.IELTS Reading is considered as a discerning skill and it is of theequal importance to listening, speaking and writing in obtainingthe objectives of IELTS of band 6 or 6.5. Being teachers of Englishat a training institution, the authors recognize that students canmake time-saving improvements in their reading command undertheir teachers’ insightful guidance.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Education, and Attitudes of International Students to IELTS: A Case of Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-500
Author(s):  
Abe W Ata
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Considerable Effect ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Language Test ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
International English

The main objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, education and attitudes of Chinese, Indian and Arab speaking students in Australia towards the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. A questionnaire was administered to 200 students at six university language centers to investigate their overall response towards the four components of the IELTS test i.e. listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It was hypothesized that having positive or negative attitudes toward a certain language can exert considerable effect on the learners’ performance on a language test. The effect of variables such as testing environment, test rubric, and broader demographic factors on attitudes of the three national groups were investigated. Significant differences were found on students’ misconceptions of language learning, motivation and the degree to which it may have hindered their progress in attaining language skills.

scholarly journals PREPARATION TECHNIQUE FOR WRITING ESSAYS AT INTERNATIONAL EXAMS IN ENGLISH

2020 ◽  
Vol 224 ◽  
pp. 72-79
Author(s):  
E.V. Bessonova ◽  
◽  
I.K. Kirillova ◽  
YU.A. Tarabarina ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Main Idea ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Task Orientation ◽  
Preparation Technique ◽  
Essay Writing ◽  
High Level ◽  
International English

Today experts with a high level of proficiency in a foreign language are considered in demand in the labour market. The level of foreign language proficiency is confirmed by a high test result of international exams in a foreign language. The essay is a mandatory part of international English language exams such as TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge Advanced English. We examined the requirements and assessment criteria for the essay writing exam task. The task assesses the level of speech skills formation necessary to create your own pieces of writing in a foreign language. As part of the research, we developed a technology for teaching writing based on a product-oriented approach. According to the technology we have identified the following stages of text production: task orientation, text planning, text writing, and text self-editing. We have also proposed a set of exercises aimed at developing following skills: task understanding, formulating the author’s point of view and its proving with relevant examples, planning a cohesive and coherent text, text division into paragraphs, highlighting of the paragraph’s main idea, development of the idea in the text, expressing ideas in the text logically in accordance with the rhetorical structure of English essay, usage of lexical cohesive means, text self-editing. This technology was tested during experimental training; its results prove the effectiveness of the proposed technology for teaching essay writing according to international English language exams requirements.

scholarly journals Prereferral Process with Latino English Language Learners with Specific Learning Disabilities: Perceptions of English-as-a-Second-Language Teachers

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Ferlis ◽  
Yaoying Xu
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Specific Learning Disabilities ◽  
Esl Teachers ◽  
Latino English Language Learners ◽  
Latino Ells ◽  
Specific Learning

This study explored perceptions of English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teachers on the prereferral process for Latino English language learners (ELLs). Using Colaizzi’s (1978) phenomenological approach, qualitative data were collected through interviews with four ESL teachers. Analyses of the data indicated that the ESL teachers used research-based interventions and progress-monitoring in the prereferral process with Latino ELLs. Data analysis also indicated negative participant perceptions of parental and school-level influence on the identification process.  Key concerns about the identification of Latino ELLs with specific learning disabilities (SLD) are presented, raising questions about current practices in school districts with small ELL populations.

scholarly journals Critically Examining Perceptions of Different Englishes in the IELTS Speaking Section: Who Decides What is Acceptable?

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 08-15
Author(s):  
Colin Michell
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Native Speakers Of English ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
International English

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) has become the worldwide benchmark for evaluating English language proficiency. However, the IELTS exam is not without its critics. It has been accused of being elitist and unaccommodating of test-takers who are not users of the prestige varieties of English, even though these people may need to take the exam for employment or immigration purposes. This study involved a focus group of experienced IELTS examiners who were given a number of listenings from non-standard yet still ‘native speakers’ of English to evaluate using the IELTS speaking bands. The focus group found that the IELTS speaking descriptors are not fit for purpose when dealing with non-standard or regional varieties of English. This study makes a case for the creators of the IELTS exam to adjust their grading criteria and examiner training to be more inclusive of all English varieties.

scholarly journals Teaching International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Writing and Exam Strategies Online to Develop Omani Students’ Writing Proficiency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radhika Lakshmi Sankara Narayanan ◽  
Priya Mathew
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Test ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Test Method ◽  
High Achievers ◽  
Testing System ◽  
International English

The restrictions imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic have forced educators and students worldwide to adapt to online learning. Language teaching in L2 contexts also had to shift to the online mode without compromising the quality of teaching and learning. This paper examines the perceptions as well as the performance of the participants involved in the online International English Language Testing System (IELTS) course offered by Middle East College, Muscat, Oman via MS Teams, an online teaching platform. Most IELTS courses offered online focus on the improvement of exam techniques; however, the developers of this course designed a syllabus based on a needs analysis to cater to the specific needs of the candidates, which would not only improve their test-taking strategies but also develop their writing skills. Adopting the Test, Teach, Re-test method, a diagnostic test was conducted initially, followed by teaching interventions and post-tests. Interviews with teachers, feedback from students, a comparison of diagnostic test scores with exit level scores, and the use of corpus linguistic methods to examine lexicogrammatical features were carried out to determine the effectiveness of the online course. The results indicated that those students who were not motivated performed poorly, whereas the high achievers were those who engaged in self-study and were, to some extent, autonomous learners. This paper contributes to our understanding of the effectiveness of short-term online language classes for Omani learners as well as provides some recommendations for improving the design and delivery of such courses.

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