An analysis of speech acts and discourse strategies of test-takers in an oral test

• Main Author: Saguid, Agatha Christie A.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2008
• Subjects: English language—Examinations; Test-taking skills—Study and teaching; Language test; Speech acts (Linguistics); Language and Literacy Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3460; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10298/viewcontent/CDTG004270_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Due to trends in international migration, language tests are now used not only for assessing learners proficiency level but also as a requirement for international travel. This study examined speech acts produced as well as discourse strategies utilized by thirty test-takers who took an oral test with an interlocutor who was either a native speaker (NS), non-native speaker (NNS), or in a computer-based test. The study also determined test-takers performance with three types of interlocutors. To further substantiate analysis of test-takers discourse, stimulated recall was conducted in order to identify thought processes relevant to test taking. Results showed little difference in the speech acts produced, and that test-takers made more use of discourse strategies in the face-to-face test, specifically help-requesting strategies. As for test performance, test-takers performed relatively better in the computer-based test having stayed on task in such test mode. The researcher concluded that what accounted for the slight differences in test-takers discourse was perhaps the kind of task given as well as the nature of the test.