The backwash effect: from testing to teaching

What can be called teacher-induced error according to the article?

Choose the correct answer.

• 
  Encouraging students to share thoughts

• denying learners essential thinking time to answer

• Avoiding saying things like ‘work quickly’

• not standing close to the student who is answering the question

Answer explanation

"Not giving students the time they need to prepare and process language, either in whole-class work or in pairs, creates anxiety, even panic, and therefore error - teacher-induced error."

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou

(p.17)

What is the key element in transforming negative backwash into a positive and in making examination preparation more of an educational activity according to the article?

• learner input

• proper texts for examination

• proper lighting in the classroom

• 
  teacher input

Answer explanation

"The tasks will involve the use of learner input, which I feel is a key element in transforming negative into positive backwash and in making examination preparation more of an educational activity than it is at present in most examination classes."

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.21)

What type of exercises does the following task belong to?:

Rewrite the sentences by changing all feminine subjects into masculine and vice versa.

• connecting the fragments

  
  

• gender bending

• transformation tennis

• the examiner's hat

Answer explanation

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.22)

Match the following

• as experienced by the learner, means language learning in a stressful, textbook-bound environment

• TESTING

• aims to make the process of imparting language both interesting and fulfilling

• ‘negative backwash’

• focuses almost exclusively on the product and the learner’s potential, both linguistic and

  personal

• TEACHING

Fill the gap: 1)     In .... (1 word) testing the teacher asks a lot of questions, while the students are not given much opportunity to ask questions (of the teacher or each other).

Answer explanation

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.16)

Fill the gap: "…. (1 word)on the part of the teacher encourages ‘errorphobia’ in the learners"

Answer explanation

"Sadly, ‘errormania’ on the part of the teacher encourages ‘errorphobia’ in the learners: a reluctance by ‘weaker’ members of the group in particular to take risks for fear of making mistakes, losing marks, and thus slipping down in the classroom hierarchy."

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.19)

Testing may be a short cut to ... (1 word) motivation, but constant resort to it is an admission of the teacher’s failure to make intrinsic motivation work.

Answer explanation

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.14)

Mismanagement of space and teacher’s body language can have negative impact on the quality of lesson

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

"Teachers can teach badly, not because of the methods or techniques they have adopted, but through mismanagement of space."

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.17)

 This statement a part of the checklist of management tactics which will tend to mitigate some of the features of testing

"When you ask a question or discuss a problem use eye contact with the only ‘best’ students to avoid silence in the classroom"

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.24)

It is possible for testing procedures to have a positive effect on classroom practice.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Answer explanation

For example, when one of the examination boards introduced a listening test based on audio-cassette material (to replace the texts read aloud by an examination supervisor), this had the effect of heightening awareness of what authentic listening involves, and schools quickly began to prepare students to cope with the new challenges.

"The backwash effect: from testing to teaching"

Luke Prodromou (p.15)