The Washback Effects of the TOEIC Examination on the Teachers and Students of a Thai Business School
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Volume one, Issue one
March 2011
The Washback Effects of the TOEIC Examination on the Teachers and Students of a Thai Business School PEERASAK APICHATROJANAKUL Shinawatra International University, Thailand Bio Data: Peerasak Apichatrojanakul worked at Sukhothai Business School in Bangkok, Thailand, as the head of Foreign Language Department for 4 years. Currently, he is an English instructor of School of Liberal Arts and Language Center at Shinawatra International University, Bangkok, Thailand. Abstract This paper looks at some washbacks of the TOEIC examination on the teachers and students through his own teaching experience with TOEIC preparation courses and interview results from those of a Bangkok’s business school. Introduction Most teachers teaching English in Thailand are not well aware of the washback effects of the courses they are teaching. Of course, a lot of them who have many years of teaching experience must have experienced or seen it to a certain extent in their careers. Similarly, on the part of students studying English, most of them must have experienced some kind of washback in some of the courses that they have passed. However, most of them are not aware of it, too. In order for these teachers and learners to know and understand what washback is like, there is an effort in this essay to study the definitions of washback as well as the significance of washback effects, both positive and negative, of the TOEIC Examination on general Thai teachers and students, as exemplified by those of a Bangkok’s business school. In-
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Language Testing in Asia
Volume one, Issue one
March 2011
depth one to one interviews of some of the TOEIC teachers and learners of that institution are also included in this present study. Definitions of Washback and its Significance One good definition of washback (or sometimes known as ‘backwash’) which was proposed by Alderson (1996), is the influence that writers on language testing, syllabus design, and language teaching believe a test will have on the teaching that precedes it. Similarly, washback can be broadly defined as the effect of a test on teaching and often also on learning, and it has been variously associated with effects on teachers and learners (Green, 2007). In recent decades, the significance of washback effects in the world of teaching English seems to have increased, as evidenced by the availability of many English proficiency preparation courses and books, including TOEIC (Testing of English for International Communication), on the education market. Here in Bangkok, Thailand, the washback effects of TOEIC on teachers and learners can be seen in the many language centers and general institutions which offer TOEIC preparation courses, such as the Bright Brain, Recovery Language School, EF English First, and Wall Street English. In addition, the washback effects of TOEIC can be seen in private tutoring classes on TOEIC which are being heavily advertized on websites, like www.dek-d.com or www.Vchar karn.com. Sukhothai Business School in
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