Education, Science, Technology, Innovation and Life
Open Access
Sign In

Examining the Perceived Effect of the English Baccalaureate Exam on Teachers' Teaching Behaviour in Tunisian Secondary Schools

Download as PDF

DOI: 10.23977/curtm.2023.060118 | Downloads: 8 | Views: 469

Author(s)

Hanen Dammak 1, Ali Khatibi 2, S. M. Ferdous Azam 2

Affiliation(s)

1 Institute of Advanced Business Studies, University of Carthage, Tunisia
2 Faculty of Business Management, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Malysia

Corresponding Author

Hanen Dammak

ABSTRACT

This paper seeks to explore the relationship between teachers' attitudes and their teaching practices within the context of the high-stakes English Baccalaureate Exam in Tunisia. Previous studies have found that factors other than the exam itself play a role in determining the amount and type of washback. Teachers' beliefs have incited much research, particularly in the context of high-stakes examinations. This study examines ELTs' AE. While most washback studies are qualitative and based on case studies, this study used a quantitative oriented approach relying on both quantitative (questionnaire, 364 ELTs following random sampling) and qualitative data (classroom observations and interviewees, 4 ELTs). Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and linear regression were used. Results showed that ELTs had mixed attitudes ranging from positive to negative. The findings also demonstrated substantial evidence of the relationship between ELTs' views and their TP. To varying degrees, ELTs' views on EBE were mirrored in their teaching practices, affecting various aspects of their classrooms. Owing to the importance of the issue, much focus should be given to teachers' beliefs. The findings are expected to contribute to developing appropriate policies and procedures for implementing effective teaching practices in the context of EBE.

KEYWORDS

High-stakes EBE, attitudes, teaching practices, washback, teacher

CITE THIS PAPER

Hanen Dammak, Ali Khatibi, S. M. Ferdous Azam, Examining the Perceived Effect of the English Baccalaureate Exam on Teachers' Teaching Behaviour in Tunisian Secondary Schools. Curriculum and Teaching Methodology (2023) Vol. 6: 96-112. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/curtm.2023.060118.

REFERENCES

[1] Alderson, J. C., & Wall, D. (1993). Does Washback Exist? Applied Linguistics, 14(2), 115–129. doi.org/ 10. 1093/applin/14.2.115.
[2] Bailey, K. M. (1996). Working for washback: A review of the washback concept in language testing. Language Testing, 13(3), 257-279. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553229601300303
[3] Shohamy, E. (2017). Critical language testing. In Elana Shohamy, Iair G. Or & Stephen May (Eds.).Language testing and assessment, (pp. 1-15). UK: Springer International Publishing. 
[4] Wall, D. (2005). The impact of high-stakes examinations on classroom teaching: A case study using insights from testing and innovation theory. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 
[5] Bachman, L. F., & Palmer, A. S. (1996). Language testing in practice: Designing and developing useful language tests. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
[6] Brown, H. D. (2004). Language assessment: Principles and classroom practices. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.
[7] Messick, S. (1989). Validity. In Robert L. Linn (Ed.), Educational measurement. (pp. 13-103). New York: American Council on Education and Macmillan. Retrieved from https: // sci-hub. se/ https: // onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi/ abs/ 10. 1111/j. 1745-3992.1995.tb00881.x
[8] Messick, S. (1995). Standards of validity and the validity of standards in performance assessment. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 5-8.  doi.org: /10.1111/j.1745-3992.1995.tb00881.x.
[9] Weir, C. J. (2005). Language testing and validation: An evidence-based approach. Houndgrave, Hampshire, UK: Palgrave-Macmillan. 
[10] Ahmed, A. A. M. (2018). Washback: Examining English language teaching and learning in Libyan secondary school education. (Ph.D. dissertation). University of Huddersfield, United Kingdom. Retrieved from https://core. ac.uk/download/pdf/163020964.pdf.
[11] Anand, P. (2018). Testing regime change as innovation: Washback potential over time. (Ph.D. dissertation). Carleton University, Canada. Retrieved from https://curve.carleton.ca/system/files/etd/22e85455-2126-4496-a5f2-1b17277a5cb1/etd_pdf/48581ca9698e9159a3f830896ba92cc0/anand-testingregimechangeasinnovationwashbackpotent ial.pdf.
[12] Fulcher, G., & Davidson, F. (2007). Language testing and assessment: An advanced resource book. London and New York: Routledge Applied Linguistics. 
[13] Fulcher, G. (2009). Test use and political philosophy. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 29, 3–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190509090023
[14] Burrows, C. (2004). Washback in classroom-based assessment: A study of the washback effect in the Australian adult migrant English program. In Liying Cheng, Yoshinori Watanabe & Andy Curtis (Eds.), Washback in Language Testing: Research context and methods, (pp. 113–128). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
[15] Watanabe, Y. (2004a). Methodology in washback studies.  In Liying Cheng, Yoshinori Watanabe & Andy Curtis (Eds.), Washback in Language Testing: Research context and methods, (pp. 19–36). Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
[16] Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2004). A guide to teaching practice. London and New York: Routledge.
[17] Hughes, A. (1993). Backwash and TOEFL 2000. Unpublished manuscript, University of Reading, England.
[18] Bailey, K. M. (1999). Washback in language testing. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.
[19] Shohamy, E., Donitsa-Schmidt, S., & Ferman, l. (1996). Test impact revisited: Washback effect over time. Language Testing, 13, 298-317. DOI:10.1177/026553229601300305
[20] Spratt, M. (2005). Washback and the classroom: The implications for teaching and learning of studies of washback from exams. Language Teaching Research, 9(1), 5–29. DOI: 10.1191/1362168805lr152oa
[21] Tsagari, K. (2006). Investigating The Washback effect of a high-stakes EFL exam in the Greek context: Participants' perceptions, material design, and classroom applications. (Ph.D. dissertation). Lancaster University, UK. Retrieved from https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.485249.
[22] Watanabe, Y. (2004b). Teacher factors mediating washback. In Liying Cheng, Yoshinori Watanabe & Andy Curtis (Eds.), Washback in language testing: Research context and methods, (pp. 129–146). Mahwah, NewJersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
[23] Cheng, L. (1998). Impact of a public English examination change on students' perceptions and attitudes toward their English learning. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 24(3), 279-301. doi.org:10.1016/S0191-491X (98)00018-2.
[24] Alderson, J. C., & Hamp-Lyons, L. (1996). TOEFL preparation courses: A study of washback. Language Testing, 13(3), 280-297. https://doi.org/10.1177/026553229601300304
[25] Wall &Alderson (1993). Examining washback: The Sri Lankan impact study. Language Testing, 10(1), 41-69. 
[26] Smith, M. L. (1991a). Put to the test: The effects of external testing on teachers. Educational Researcher, 20(5), 8-11. DOI:10.3102/0013189X020005008
[27] Smith, M. L. (1991b). Meanings of test preparation. American Educational Research Journal, 28(3), 521-542. https://doi.org/10.2307/1163147
[28] Read, J., & Hayes, B. (2003). The impact of IELTS on preparation for academic study in New Zealand. IELTS International English Language Testing System Research Reports, 4, 153-206.
[29] Haney, J. J., Lumpe, A. T., Czerniak, C., & Egan, V. (2002). From beliefs to actions: The beliefs and actions of teachers implementing change. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 13(3), 171-187. https: // doi. org/ 10. 1023/ A: 1016565016116
[30] Copp, D. T. (2018). Teaching to the test: a mixed-methods study of instructional change from large-scale testing in Canadian schools. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 25(5), 468–487. https: // doi. org/ 10. 1080/ 0969594X.2016.1244042
[31] Copp, D. T. (2019). Accountability testing in Canada: Aligning provincial policy objectives with teaching practices. Canadian Journal of Educational Administration and Policy, 188, 15-35.
[32] Gökhan, Ö. (2015). Language teacher cognition, classroom practices and institutional context: A qualitative case study on three EFL teachers. (Ph.D. dissertation). Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Retrieved from https://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12619578/index.pdf.
[33] Erfani, S. S. (2012). A comparative washback study of IELTS and TOEFL iBT on Teaching and Learning activities in preparation courses in the Iranian context. English Language Teaching, 5(8), 185-195. DOI:10.5539/elt.v5n8p185
[34] Farrell, T. S. C., & Ives, J. (2015). Exploring teacher beliefs and classroom practices through reflective practice: A case study. Language Teaching Research, 19(5), 594-610. doi.org 10.1177/1362168814541722
[35] Gebril, A., & Eid, M. (2017). Test preparation beliefs and practices in a high-stakes context: A teacher's perspective. Language Assessment Quarterly, 14(4), 360-379. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2017.1353607
[36] Wisdom, S. (2018). Teachers’ perceptions about the influence of high-stakes testing on students. (Doctor of Education project study). Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Retrieved from https:// scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7092&context=dissertations.
[37] Smith, M. L., Carole, E., Kelly, D., Claim, R., & Meredith, C. (1991). The Role of Testing Elementary Schools. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED338673.pdf.
[38] Wang J. (2019). A study of the role of the ‘teacher factor’ in washback. (Ph.D. thesis). McGill University, Canada. Retrieved from https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item?id=TC-QMM-96731&op=pdf&app=Library&oclc_number =10328 83115
[39] Hidri, S. (2015). Conceptions of assessment: Investigating what assessment means to secondary and university teachers. Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(1), 19-43.
[40] Tsagari, D. (2011). Washback of a high-stakes English exam on teachers' perceptions and practices, 431-445. Selected Papers from the 19th International Symposium on Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, 431-445. https://doi.org/10.26262/istal.v19i0.5521.
[41] Creswell, J. W., & Plano, V. C. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research. Thousand Oaks, California: SAGE Publications, Inc.
[42] Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.
[43] Fabrigar, L R. & Wegener D.T. (2012). Exploratory Factor Analysis-Understanding Statistics-. Oxford University Press.
[44] Watkins, M. W. (2018). Exploratory factor analysis: A guide to best practice. Journal of Black Psychology, 44(3), 219–246. doi.org:10.1177/0095798418771807 
[45] Sullivan, G. M., & Artino, A. R. (2013). Analyzing and interpreting data from Likert-type scales. Journal of Graduate Medical Education, 5(4), 541-542. doi: 10.4300/JGME-5-4-18
[46] Binnahedh, I., B. (2022). E-assessment: Wash-Back Effects and Challenges (Examining Students' and Teachers' Attitudes towards E-tests). Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 203-211, January 2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1201.25

All published work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright © 2016 - 2031 Clausius Scientific Press Inc. All Rights Reserved.