EXPLORING THE WASHBACK EFFECTS OF VSTEP ON THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH AT ULIS – VNU

Abstract

The assessment of learning outcomes and the process of teaching are closely
related. When implemented at the end stage of a training process, the assessment can provide information about learners’ completion of training objectives; however, the assessment can also have signifcant washback effects on the training process itself. After nearly 2 years of being used as the offcial English language standardized exam to determine the English competency as a learning outcome at ULIS-VNU, VSTEP initially has major impact on the teaching and management of English skill development subjects. This article aims at exploring some positive
effects and some others that need ULIS managers’ attention, followed by a number of proposals to improve the effectiveness of the test in regulating the training process.