142 / 2018-03-26 05:23:33

Constructing Standards of EAP Assessment for Chinese EFL learners of finance and economics majors at university level

EAP assessment, construct, localized test

全体主题 > Standards in developing language assessments

In the context of offering localized and specified English for Academic Purposes for university level Chinese EFL learners, this study explores the issues of EAP assessment for finance and economics majors. Firstly, this study aims to define the construct of EAP assessment for Chinese EFL learners of finance and economics majors at university level based on prior research literature on EAP assessment models and learners' needs on EAP skills in universities of finance and economics. Assessment standards of academic English for finance and economics purposes, then, are discussed by adopting IELTS Academic testing framework in line with localized course syllabus. Finally, a EAP assessment framework for Chinese EFL learners of finance and economics majors is proposed in attempt to develop localized and university-specific assessment procedures to generate effective feedback to EAP courses and bring about positive wash-back for EAP learners of finance and economics majors in university level.

To conclude, the construct of EAP assessment is constituted by multi-facets of target language use domains in different disciplines, which can be summarized as three aspects: generic linguistic knowledge including phonetic, syntactic, lexical and semantic aspect of language, subject specific knowledge of disciplines such as the basic principles and essential terminology in specific disciplines, and knowledge of academic rules and conventions through English, like the accepted norms for academic presentation in spoken and written formats.
Secondly, We propose the framework of assessment standards for EAP exams to observe in designing and administrating the tests, where an essential factor for these four standards including validity, reliability, authenticity and impact is the involvement of subject-specific knowledge in the testing process.
Finally, EAP assessment of specific courses is expected to have the functions of achievement test of the courses covered, proficiency test of the EFL learners' level of academic capabilities, as well as diagnostic test to identify the aspect in which the EFL learners are proficient at as well as inadequate at.
Therefore, local standards of scoring need to be aligned with the international standards of well-known international tests like IELTS Academic for the purpose that the EFL learners are likely to have an dual evaluation of their EAP proficiency against the in-house university standards, as well as international standards.