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The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics
[ Article ]
Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 21, No. 0, pp.1214-1231
ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print) 2586-7474 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Jan 2021
Received 15 Oct 2021 Revised 15 Dec 2021 Accepted 27 Dec 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.21..202112.1214

Analyzing Speech Rate in CSAT Listening Comprehension: From the Perspectives of Washback Effects and Learning Transfer

Joonwon Lee
Ph.D Candidate, Dept. of English, Arizona State Univ. jlee540@asu.edu


© 2021 KASELL All rights reserved
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the speech rate of CSAT (College Scholastic Ability Test) listening comprehension part, a national university entrance exam. In fact, it is not hard to find Korean EFL learners having difficulties in comprehending authentic speeches, although they learn English in schools for ten years. Among many factors that cause the difficulties, speech rate has been known a factor that affects L2 listening comprehension and CSAT listening comprehension part tends not to reflect the authentic speech rates. Therefore, this study analyzed the speech rate of CSAT listening comprehension. As a result, it was found that CSAT has exposed Korean EFL learners to listening input of which speech rate is comparatively slow, which makes it hard for Korean EFL to develop their ability to comprehend speeches in authentic listening situations. The results suggest that varying the degree of speech rate in CSAT listening comprehension can be a possible solution with the consideration of learning transfer and washback effects of CSAT. Varying degrees of the speech rate in CSAT is expected to provide Korean EFL learners with chances to be exposed to speech rates that they are expected to face in authentic listening situations with washback effects of CSAT. In addition, it will lead Korean EFL learners to be able to comprehend authentic speeches through learning transfer.

Keywords:

CSAT listening comprehension, L2 listening comprehension, speech rate, learning transfer, washback effects, L2 listening assessment

Acknowledgments

This study is an updated and extended study based on the author’s master’s thesis.

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