Authenticity and Test Taker's Strategies in Iranian EFL Classes
Subject Areas : Journal of Teaching English Language StudiesNeda Nevisandeh 1 , Monireh Mohebbi 2
1 - Department of English, Faculty of humanities, Takestan Branch, Islamic Azad University,
Takestan, Iran
2 - Department of English, Faculty of humanities, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran
Keywords: reading comprehension, Authentic Texts-Test-taking Strategies- Test Type- Reading Strategies,
Abstract :
The theoretical framework for this study is research in the areas of language testing andreading. and overview of language testing and current developments in language testing research,including factors that affect test performance and authentic assessment. Test type as the taskvariable, test-taking strategies and gender as the reader variable, and authenticity as the textvariable were selected and their interaction is examined. Therefore, the present study sets out toinvestigate the specific test-taking strategies employed by Iranian EFL students, readingauthentic or simplified reading texts and the difference between the two sets of strategies, toexplore whether males and females reported different patterns of reading and test-taking strategyuse, and whether respondents to multiple-choice and open-ended questions used different testtakingstrategies while reading. methodology of the study, including the characteristics of theparticipants, the structure of the materials, and the description of the procedure which has beenused in the present study and finally the details of the statistical measures employed to analyzethe data collected.
Abbott, L. M. (2006). ESL reading strategies: Differences in Arabic and Mandarin speaker test
performance. Language Learning, 56(4), 633-670.
Ahmad, A. B. (2006). The effect of using authentic English language materials on EFL students'
achievement in reading comprehension. Journal of Educational & Psychological
Sciences, 7(1), 8-21
Bachman, L. F. (1990). Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Carson, J., G. & Longhini, A. (2002). Focusing on learning styles and strategies: A diary study in
an immersion setting. Language Learning, 52(2), 401-438.
Dolly, J. P., & Williams, K. S. (1986). Using test-taking strategies to maximize multiple-choice
test scores. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 46(3), 619-625.
Ehrman, M. E. & Oxford, R. L. (1989). Effects of sex differences, career choice, and
psychological type on adult language learning strategies. Modern Language Journal, 73,
1-13.
Ghaemi, N. (2009). The psychology of Iranian-American relations: Delving into the psyches of
Iran and America. Psychology Today. Retrieved March 11, 2009 from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mood-swings/200902/the-psychology-iranianamerican-
relations
Grabe, W. (1991). Current developments in second language reading research. TESOL
Quarterly, 25(3), 375-396.
Hayashi, K. (1999). Reading strategies and extensive reading in EFL classes. RELC Journal,
30(2), 114–132.
Ikeda, M., & Takeuchi, O. (2006). Clarifying the differences in learning EFL reading strategies:
An analysis of portfolios. System, 34, 384-398.
Katalin, B. (2007). Reflections on the test-taking strategies of 7th and 11th grade Hungarian
students of English. NovELTy, 7(3), 1-8.
Lan, R., & Oxford, R. L. (2003). Language learning strategy profile of elementary school
students in Taiwan. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching,
41, 339-379.
Macaro, E. (2006). Strategies for Language Learning and for Language Use: Revising the
Theoretical Framework. The Modern Language Journal, 90(3), 320-337.
Nakatani, Y. (2006). Developing an oral communication strategy inventory. The Modern
Language Journal, 90(2), 151-168.
Oller, J.W. (1979). Language tests at school. London: Longman.
Parks, S., & Raymond, P. M. (2004). Strategy use by nonnative-English-speaking students in an
MBA program: Not business as usual. The Modern Language Journal, 88(3), 374-389.
JOURNAL OF TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDIES, Vol. 3, NO. 2, Fall 2014
104
Rahimi, M. (2005).On the test-taking strategies and test performance: A construct validity study
of the listening section of the IELTS from candidates’ perspective. Unpublished master’s
thesis, University of Tehran, Tehran.
Schoonen, R., Holstijn, J., & Bossers, B. (1998). Metacognitive and language-specific
knowledge in native and foreign language reading comprehension: An empirical study
among Dutch students in grades 6, 8 and 10. Language Learning, 48(1), 71-106.
Tan, M. (2005). Authentic language or language errors? Lessons from a learner corpus. ELT
Journal, 59(2), 126-134.
Vattanapath, R., & Jaiprayoon, K. (1999). An assessment of the effectiveness of teaching testtaking
strategies for multiple-choice English reading comprehension tests. SLLT, 8, 57-
71.
Wallace, C. (2001). Reading. In R. Carter & D. Nunan (Eds.), The Cambridge guide to teaching
English to speakers of other languages (pp. 21-27). Cambridge, England: Cambridge
University Press.
Yamamori, K., Isoda, T., Hiromori, T., & Oxford, R. L. (2003). Using cluster analysis to uncover
L2 learner differences in strategy use, will to learn, and achievement over time.
International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 41, 381-409.
Zoubir-Shaw, S. & Oxford, R. L. (1995). Gender difference in language learning strategy use in
university-level introductory French classes. In C. A. Klee (Ed.), Faces in a crowd: The
individual learner in multisection courses (pp. 181-213). Boston: Heinle & Heinle