批评语言测试视阈下的中、美、英商务英语考试比较研究

A comparative analysis of business English tests in the USA,the UK and China:From the perspective of critical language testing

传统语言测试研究主要从微观技术角度关注试题质量,较少从宏观社会角度考察测试研发背景、研发目的和社会效应等。本文试从批评语言测试视角,比较中、美、英三国大型商务英语考试之异同,揭示语言测试社会性和工具性本质,分析美、英两国将本国考试推向世界的动机与策略,对照我国商务英语考试中存在的问题与面临的困境,提出完善建议和改进措施,助力我国商务英语考试在当今激烈的市场竞争中赢得一席之地。

Traditional studies of language testing focus mainly on the quality of language tests at the micro technical level but seldom explore the background, the purpose and the impact at the macro social level. This paper attempts to examine the similarities and differences of large scale business English tests of the USA, the UK and China from the perspective of critical language testing and to reveal the social and instrumental nature of language tests by analyzing the motivation and strategies of the USA and the UK for marketing their tests in the world. Meanwhile, the problems and challenges of business English language test in China are pointed out and the suggestions for improvement are put forward to help the test win a place in this competitive market.