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Keywords: Wash back, teaching-learning, classroom practices, learning behavior.
1.1 Introduction
Theory and practice go hand in hand when it comes to teaching and assessment within educational institutions. Testing is generally considered to be the culminating point of teaching; therefore, it has bearing not just on learners but on teachers, curriculum and institutions as well. "Testing is never a neutral process and always has consequences" (Stobart, 2003, p.140). Wall (1997) defines wash back as "wash back (also known as backwash) is sometimes used as a synonym of impact, but it is more frequently used to refer to the effects of tests on teaching and learning" (p. 291). Wash back may be positive or negative considering whether it promotes or impedes achievement of educational goals set forth by the learners or institutions (Bailey, 1996).
The study intends to investigate the wash back of Remedial English classes at The University of Sindh.
1.2 Research Questions
The study attempts to answer the following Research Question:
R.Q 1: Does wash back exist within Remedial English classrooms of UoSJP?
1.3 Context of the Study
The study tries to examine some of the claims we come across as language teachers about communicative language teaching and testing. R. E course was introduced back in 2001 in UoSJP, with a view to improving the language skills of the students across all the 6 faculties of the university. While the course has undergone various changes over the years, the testing of R.E still remains problematic and largely ignored. R. E is tested mainly through theoretical tests that concentrate on the theoretical component of the course rather than on its communicative content. My study aims to pin point the impacts of these tests on class room activities. The study will see whether wash back exists within the English class rooms or not. And if wash back exists its influence is negative or positive.
1.4 Significance
Wash back has been examined in various contexts (Romberg, Zarinnia and Williams, 1989; Wilson and Corbett, 1989; Smith, 1991a; 1991b; McLaurin, 1992; Herman and Golan, 1993). Wash back studies within ESL/EFL are even fewer. My study aims to fill in this gap. To the best of my knowledge, my study is the very first one of its nature within the context...