A STUDY ON IMPACT OF TESTING ON ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN A SAUDI ARABIAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to identify if the teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) yield to testing and results, while teaching. The impact of teaching on testing is called washback. Tests have positive and negative results on the students. The attitude of teachers towards washback impacts a lot on students as they play a pivotal role to reduce the impact of negative influence on teaching and learning.
 Methodology: A background information questionnaire is generated for 57 EFL teachers in Saudi Arabia. Besides, another questionnaire with sixteen statements is provided and the participants are asked to respond on the basis of 5-point Likert scale. The data is analyzed with the support of pi and bar charts, SPSS, students’ t-test, and ANOVA.
 Main Findings: This study identifies different perspectives of teachers towards the impact of testing on teaching. The experienced faculties teach students and assess them with no washback. On the other hand, the moderately experienced and less experienced teachers get affected by washback. This study identifies that experienced teachers are not influenced by testing.
 Applications of this study: If the universities create a platform for all EFL teachers, they can learn from one another. This study identifies that the third group, the experienced, are not influenced by testing. If their experience supports the first and the second groups, it will yield a larger benefit not only to students but also to the teaching fraternity.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: The experienced teachers focus more on teaching but not on testing, which is a positive sign. The moderately experienced teachers focus on both the things. The less experienced teachers are neutral to all statements. Based on the current study, the administrators can create a platform for all EFL teachers so that they can get benefitted from one another.