scholarly journals Questioning in TOEFL iBT speaking test: a case of washback and construct underrepresentation

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Sayyadi ◽  
Reza Rezvani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Proficiency Tests ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Preparation Time ◽  
Speaking Test ◽  
Reciprocal Interactions ◽  
Toefl Ibt ◽  
Administration Procedure

AbstractAdmission in English-medium universities or institutions of higher education depends on the results obtained by candidates in large-scale proficiency tests including Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test (iBT). The structure and administration procedure of the TOEFL iBT speaking test leaves no room for carrying out reciprocal interactions and, consequently, examining applicants’ questioning ability. This study highlights the significance of non-native students’ skills to ask oral English questions in academic contexts as experienced by non-native graduates from English-medium universities and in the view of Iranian TOEFL iBT instructors. Further, the washback of the absence of the skill in the TOEFL iBT test was investigated in speaking preparation classes. Twelve non-native graduates and nineteen Iranian TOEFL iBT instructors participated in the study. They were all interviewed about the significance of oral questioning. The instructors’ views were also sought about the consequences of the disregard of questioning in the test. To triangulate the data, two classes of the instructors were also observed. Classroom observations and interviews were analyzed through content analysis. The results indicated that the participants generally assumed questioning as indispensable in academic interactions. Despite their acknowledgment of its significance, as both the interviews and observations unveiled, the instructors, however, tended not to work on their students’ questioning because of the absence of the skill in the test, the students’ reluctance, limited preparation time, and dependence of their professional reputation on the test results rather than target situation performance. The study further discusses the implications of the findings for the test construct representation and preparation courses.

The Generalization of Instruction on Genitive Relative Clause in the Acquisition of English as a Foreign Language

2006 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 99-113
Author(s):  
Akihiro Ito
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Relative Clause ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Japanese Learners Of English ◽  
Special Instruction ◽  
Japanese Learners

This study examines the generalization of instruction in foreign language learning. A group of Japanese learners of English served as participants and received special instruction in the structure of genitive relative clauses. The participants were given a pre-test on combining two sentences into one containing a genitive relative clause wherein the relativized noun phrase following the genitive marker "whose" is either the subject, direct object, or object of preposition. Based on the TOEFL and the pre-test results, four equal groups were formed; three of these served as experimental groups, and one as the control group. Each experimental group was given instruction on the formation of only one type of genitive relative clause. The participants were then given two post-tests. The results indicated that the generalization of learning begins from structures that are typologically more marked genitive relative clauses to those structures that are typologically less marked, and not vice versa.

Promoting positive washforward through personalised test feedback and other benefits: Piloting a computer-based testing system

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 235-244
Author(s):  
Elena A. M. Gandini ◽  
Tania Horák
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Test Feedback ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Computer Based Testing ◽  
The University ◽  
Future Learning ◽  
Personalised Feedback

AbstractThis contribution reports on the developing and piloting of a computer-based version of the test of English as a foreign language produced by the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), where it is currently used for the admission of international students and the subsequent evaluation of their language progress. Among other benefits, computer-based testing allows for better and individualised feedback to both teachers and students, and it can provide a more authentic test experience in light of the current digital shift that UK universities are undergoing. In particular, the qualitative improvement in the feedback available for test-takers and teachers was for us a crucial factor. Providing students with personalised feedback, that is, directly linked to their performance, has positive washforward, because it means we can guide their future learning, highlighting the areas they need to work on to improve their language skills and giving them suggestions on how to succeed in academia. Furthermore, explaining the meaning of test results in detail improves transparency and ultimately washback, as teachers can use the more accessible marking criteria, together with information on how their students performed, to review plans and schemes of work for subsequent courses.

Using Indicator Bacteria and Salmonella Test Results from Three Large-Scale Beef Abattoirs over an 18-Month Period To Evaluate Intervention System Efficacy and Plan Carcass Testing for Salmonella

2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (12) ◽  
pp. 2732-2740 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN R. RUBY ◽  
JUN ZHU ◽  
STEVEN C. INGHAM
Keyword(s):  
Lactic Acid ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Microbiological Contamination ◽  
Negative Results ◽  
Intervention Process ◽  
Beef Carcasses ◽  
Causative Factors ◽  
Plate Counts

To develop a process for predicting the likelihood of Salmonella contamination on beef carcasses, we evaluated the influence of several possible causative factors (i.e., year, abattoir, day of week, month, and intervention system components) on the risk of Salmonella and indicator organism contamination. Hide and carcass sponge samples were collected in 2005 to 2006 in six steps at three abattoirs in the East (A), Midwest (B), and Southwest (C) United States. Each abattoir used the same intervention system. Samples were analyzed for aerobic plate counts (APCs; n = 18,990) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBCs; n = 18,989) and the presence or absence of Salmonella (n = 5,355). Our results demonstrated that many factors play a significant role in the level of microbial contamination of beef carcasses. Overall, Salmonella prevalence and EBC levels were significantly higher in 2006 than in 2005. APCs and EBCs were highest in abattoirs A (3.57 log CFU/100 cm2) and B (1.31 log CFU/100 cm2). The odds of detecting a positive Salmonella isolate were greatest in abattoir C and lowest in abattoir A. Across the three abattoirs, the overall intervention process effectively reduced microbiological contamination. Salmonella prevalence fell from 45% (preevisceration) to 0.47% (postchilled–lactic acid), and there were APC and EBC reductions of 5.43 and 5.28 log CFU/100 cm2, respectively, from hide-on to postchilled–lactic acid samples. At each abattoir, composites of three individual EBC-negative carcass samples yielded Salmonella-negative results 97 to 99% of the time. These results suggest the possibility of using indicator test results to accurately predict the absence of Salmonella in a beef carcass sample.

High Frequency Vibration Analysis of Automotive Body Panels with Damping Materials

2010 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. 293-296
Author(s):  
Yoshio Kurosawa ◽  
Takao Yamaguchi
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
The Body ◽  
Viscoelastic Damping ◽  
Fe Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Automotive Body ◽  
Modal Damping ◽  
Practical Tool ◽  
Damping Materials

We have developed a technique for estimating vibrations of an automotive body structures with viscoelastic damping materials using large-scale finite element (FE) model, which will enable us to grasp and to reduce high-frequency road noise（200～500Hz）. In the new technique, first order solutions for modal loss factors are derived applying asymptotic method. This method saves calculation time to estimate modal damping as a practical tool in the design stages of the body structures. Frequency responses were calculated using this technique and the results almost agreed with the test results. This technique can show the effect of the viscoelastic damping materials on the automotive body panels, and it enables the more efficient layout of the viscoelastic damping materials. Further, we clarified damping properties of the automotive body structures under coupled vibration between frames and panels with the viscoelastic damping materials.

scholarly journals Ice-Accretion Test Results for Three Large-Scale Swept-Wing Models in the NASA Icing Research Tunnel

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy P. Broeren ◽  
Mark G. Potapczuk ◽  
Sam Lee ◽  
Adam M. Malone ◽  
Bernard P. Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Ice Accretion ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Swept Wing

scholarly journals Pronunciation Errors of Letter “G” in English Language Made by Saudi Undergraduate Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huda Alqunayeer
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Loan Words ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Academic Year

The primary goal of the present study is to identify the problematic areas in the pronunciation of the letter “g” in English written words made by Saudi female learners of English as a foreign language, and the reasons for the weakness associated with mispronunciation of English written words which contain this letter. The population of the study was the female students (90 students) and their English language teachers (12 teachers) at the Qassim University during the academic year (2014-2015). There were two types of instruments used in this study. The first was a pronunciation test for the student participants in order to investigate the problematic areas of pronouncing “g” in different environments in different words; and the second a questionnaire for the teacher participants to provide comprehensive data about the causes of these errors of pronouncing “g” committed by EFL female students at Qassim University. Ninety female students were included for the pronunciation test and 12 teachers were asked to answer the questionnaire. Simple percentage was used for analyzing the data of recording words (pronunciation test). Results of the students’ recording words revealed that the participants mispronounced “g” before nasals (68%). According to the results of the teachers’ responses to the questionnaire suggested many factors that can cause difficulties for students in terms of pronouncing “g” in English written words. According to them, these difficulties are concerned with reading difficulties, nonstandard spellings, letters that follow “g” (many of them may become combinations), loan words, orthography (no correspondence between the English alphabets and their sounds). The researcher offers recommendations that might help teachers and students to overcome and reduce these mispronunciations of this letter in English written words.

Analytical Model for Rockfall Protection Galleries - a Blind Prediction of Test Results and Conclusion

2011 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
pp. 722-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian Schellenberg ◽  
Norimitsu Kishi ◽  
Hisashi Kon-No
Keyword(s):  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Blind Prediction ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Input Parameters ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Protective Structures ◽  
Cushion Layer

A system of multiple degrees of freedom composed out of three masses and three springs has been presented in 2008 for analyzing rockfall impacts on protective structures covered by a cushion layer. The model has then been used for a blind prediction of a large-scale test carried out in Sapporo, Japan, in November 2009. The test results showed substantial deviations from the blind predictions, which led to a deeper evaluation of the model input parameters showing a significant influence of the modeling properties for the cushion layer on the overall results. The cushion properties include also assumptions for the loading geometry and the definition of the parameters can be challenging. This paper introduces the test setup and the selected parameters in the proposed model for the blind prediction. After comparison with the test results, adjustments in the input parameters in order to match the test results have been evaluated. Conclusions for the application of the model as well as for further model improvements are drawn.

Design and Testing of ITER TF Coil Insulations

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 3127-3131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew W. Hooker ◽  
Jennifer K. Walsh ◽  
Mark W. Haynes ◽  
Naseem A. Munshi
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Performance ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Vacuum Impregnation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Qualification Test ◽  
Insulation System ◽  
Cyanate Ester Resin ◽  
Design And Testing

The design of the ITER Toroidal Field (TF) coils requires an insulation system that is amenable to the very large scale vacuum impregnation processes planned for the construction of these devices, and that will provide reliable electro-mechanical performance after radiation exposure. To address this need, CTD has developed an epoxy/cyanate ester resin system designated CTD-425. This material meets the processing requirements for use in the TF coils, and cyclic mechanical testing of conductor assemblies has demonstrated its electro-mechanical strength after 60,000 mechanical cycles. In addition, this product recently passed radiation exposure tests coordinated by the ITER International Organization and is now qualified for use in constructing the TF coils. This paper summarizes the performance characterization and qualification test results for this insulation.

scholarly journals Seismic Behavior and Force-Displacement Characterization of Neotype Column-Slab High Piers

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
YanQun Zhou ◽  
YeZhi Zhang ◽  
MeiXin Ye ◽  
MengSi Zhan
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Behavior ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Lateral Displacements ◽  
High Pier ◽  
Experimental Values ◽  
Large Scale Tests ◽  
Force Displacement

The seismic behavior and plasticity spreading of a neotype column-slab high pier are researched in this paper. Four scale model tests of a web slab with two boundary columns are carried out under cyclic inelastic lateral displacements simulating seismic response. The test results show that the neotype column-slab high pier has strong and stable bearing capacity, good ductility, and energy dissipation capacity. The experimental values pertaining to the spread of plasticity are derived. An approach for deriving the spread of plasticity analytically is deduced and applied to the four tests. This method accurately assesses a pier’s spread of plasticity for most ductility levels. At nearly all ductility levels, the mean difference between analytical assessments of the spread of plasticity and results from 4 large-scale tests is 12% with a 9% coefficient of variation.

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