earticle

영어

The purpose of this study is to understand Korean test-takers’ perceptions on TOEIC from critical language testing (Shohamy, 2001a). The interview data of this study were acquired from eleven college students who have learned TOEIC in everyday contexts. The results are found as follows: Firstly, test-takers saw TOEIC as an institutionalized test. They associated TOEIC with ‘spec’, ‘scale’, and ‘gate keeper’. Secondly, TOEIC was perceived as a perpetuating tool of English status and successful career in Korea. Lastly, most participants took TOEIC-based English learning as building test-wiseness skills although a few expressed positive attitude toward TOEIC preparation. This study implies that TOEIC cannot be viewed as a neutral and positive measure of English proficiency, and that ‘use-oriented testing’ needs to be considered in high-stake testing contexts, for the use of shared authority, collaboration and involvement of different stake holders. Implications for further research are also discussed.