A Study of Test-taking Strategies Used by EFL Listeners

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the test-taking strategies for listening tests used by EFL learners in Taiwan. In the study, participants were 104 college freshmen from a university in northern Taiwan. The participants first took the listening test of intermediate GEPT. Then, they were asked to complete the questionnaire of listening test-taking strategies. Finally, an interview was held with twelve of the participants to probe how they perceive their test-taking strategies. Results show that 'test-wise' has the highest average frequency among the five categories of listening test-taking strategies. The strategy most often used by the participants among the 42 test-taking strategies is 'I used the process of elimination.' Proficient EFL listeners used significantly more top-down and affective strategies than less proficient listeners did. In participants' opinions, listening test-taking strategies benefit them a lot. Their listening anxieties were reduced and they were more confident when they took the listening test. Through the research findings, the study can provide empirical descriptions for the research literature of listening test-taking strategies. It can also help college students effectively improve their performance in EFL listening tests through the understanding of their test-taking strategies.

關鍵字

EFL Listening ； Listening Test ； Test-taking Strategy

並列摘要

本研究之目的為探討臺灣學生所使用的英語聽力測驗應試策略。主要的研究問題分別是：（1）受測者較常使用的英語聽力測驗應試策略為何？（2）英語高成就與低成就受測者所使用的聽力測驗應試策略是否有顯著之差異？（3）受測者對於英語聽力測驗應試策略的觀感為何？本研究的受測對象為104位就讀於臺灣北部某大學的大一學生。所使用的研究工具包括英語聽力測驗，聽力測驗應試策略問卷，及訪談問題。英語聽力測驗共45題。根據Taguchi（2001）之研究所編製的應試策略問卷共包含42個項目。受測對象先作答英語聽力測驗，完成聽力測驗後，填答應試策略問卷，最後12位應試者接受訪談，針對英聽測驗應試策略作進一步的探討。研究結果顯示，受測者最常用的英聽測驗應試策略為藉由刪除過程作答。英語高成就受測者使用由頂而下及情意策略，顯著多於低成就受測者。此外，受測者認為使用應試策略對其助益頗多，能幫助他們降低測驗焦慮及增強應試自信心。藉由提供實証性資料，本研究將有助於英聽測驗應試策略使用之瞭解，並能進一步指導臺灣的大學生成為更有能力的英語聽者。

並列關鍵字

英語聽力；聽力測驗；應試策略

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