BEC中级口语考试的反拨效应——基于对考官的调查分析

The Washback of B2 Business Vantage Speaking Test—An Investigation on Examiners

本研究以某BEC考点的35名口试考官为研究对象,主要通过问卷调查并辅之以访谈的研究方法探讨BEC中级口试的反拨效应,包括考官对BEC中级口试的认识,BEC中级口试对考官的影响和影响评分的因素。研究结果表明,考官对BEC中级口试持肯定的态度,BEC中级口试对考官产生了积极的反拨效应。考官认为考官个人、考生与其搭档的水平差异、口试中按考号顺序组合搭档的施考形式以及其他非语言因素对其评分的影响较小。不过在施考过程中他们也遇到一些困难,如评分标准的自由度,评判的依据与尺度等。本研究期望为BEC中级口试的改进及其施考提供启示,为专门用途英语口语考试的相关研究提供参考。

This study conducted questionnaire survey accompanied by semi-structured interview on 35 speaking test examiners from a BEC test center to investigate the washback effect of speaking test of B2 Business Vantage, exploring examiners’ perceptions and the influence of speaking test of B2 Business Vantage on them. The findings indicate that the examiners hold positive attitude towards speaking test of B2 Business Vantage, and the test has exerted positive washback on examiners. According to the examiners, their scoring was limitedly influenced by examiners themselves, English proficiency discrepancy between candidates and their partners, the way of grouping partners by test numbers and other non-linguistic factors. However, the study explored some difficulties confronted by examiners during the test, such as variance in scoring criteria, evidence of scoring and measurement, etc. This study aims to provide some reference for the improvement of speaking test of B2 Business Vantage, test administration, and related study on ESP speaking English test.