The Influence of Partner Acquaintanceship in an EFL Speaking Test

Abstract

This paper explores the effect of the familiarity between partners on their performance during oral proficiency tests in an EFL class. Not many studies about familiarity between test-takers and their partners have been conducted, but such sociocognitive factor appears to be empirical with regard to performance tests(O'Sullivan, 2002; Porter, 1991). Along the line of research conducted by O'Sullivan(2002) and Porter(1991), this paper investigates the role of interlocutors with respect to their familiarity with test-takers. Japanese and Korean learners of English participated in two speaking tests; paired with their friends in the first speaking test and paired with partners who they are not familiar with in the second speaking test. Under the two different familiarity conditions, the test-takers participated in two different types of English oral proficiency tests: 1) a task focusing on grammar(sentence formation) and 2) a task measuring their overall L2 proficiency(impromptu speech). The findings of the research are as follows. First, the overall results show that the test scores are positively correlated with familiarity. Second, the impact of familiarity is greater on the complex L2 tasks such as impromptu speech than the simple tasks such as sentence-forming. Third, Japanese participants exhibit more individual difference whereas Korean participants are more dominantly affected(positively) by being grouped with the familiar partners. (University of Aizu․Busan University of Foriegn Studies)