How to Test Speaking Skills in Japan

Part 1 Why should we bother with speaking tests? Chapter 1: The conundrum of teaching English in Japan Chapter 2: Embrace testing Chapter 3: Work for positive washback Communicative language testing and teaching are seen as two sides of the same coin . . . Having teaching and testing compatible is essential if we expect our students to learn what we teach them. -Meryl Swain (in Mendelsohn,1989: 107) B efore embarking on any new endeavor, it’s really important to fully understand what you are getting yourself into In this book, I’m basically asking you to learn new things, to expand your teaching and testing skills beyond what they are now In other words, I’m asking you to work harder, to put more time and energy into your job Being quite busy myself, I know full well what a big ask this is I therefore feel compelled to begin by directly addressing this critical why bother question When we have 59 other things we could be doing with our time, why should we invest our energy here, into learning how to con duct speaking tests?

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