The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics

Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 19 , No. 3
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Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 475-499
Abbreviation: KASELL
ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print)
Print publication date 30 Sep 2019
Received 09 Aug 2019 Revised 10 Sep 2019 Accepted 19 Sep 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.19.3.201909.475

기업 맥락에서 직장인 고부담 영어 말하기 시험 준비: 수험자 정체성 관점으로
김나희
연구원, 영어영문학과, 중앙대학교, 서울시 동작구 흑석로 84 (mission52jk@gmail.com)

Employees’ high stakes English test preparation: From test taker identity
Nahee Kim
Researcher, Department of English, Chung-Ang University, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Korea (mission52jk@gmail.com)
Abstract

This study aims to explore high stakes English speaking test preparation and test taker identity in a work place setting, investigating why and how employees prepare for a language test, and how their English learning and identity are influenced by test preparation activities from the test-takers’ perspectives. Qualitative data were collected through participant-interviews, documentation, field notes and research journal for three months in work place settings. The results indicated that test preparation activities were focused on test strategies, including memorization of sample answers. Also, it was found that test takers’ preparation practice may have come into being, negatively influencing their English speaking learning and narrative identity. The implications of the paper are to raise awareness of links between high-stakes language test, preparation activities, and test taker identity, focusing on negative effects on a test taker’s actual language proficiency and identity construction. It is also suggested that there is a need for investigating more cases of employee-test takers preparing high-stakes tests of English speaking proficiency at work by listening to their voices.

Keywords: high stakes language test preparation, test taker identity, speaking test, global corporation
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