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Accent and listening assessment: A validation study of the use of speakers with L2 accents on an academic English listening test

Research output: Book/Report/ProceedingsBook

Published
Publication date2011
Place of PublicationFrankfurt
PublisherPeter Lang
Number of pages291
ISBN (print)978-3-631-60939-2
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Publication series

NameLanguage Testing and Evaluation
Volume21

Abstract

Given the linguistically diverse nature of academic institutions in English-speaking contexts, a strong rationale exists for the incorporation of L2 accents of English in academic listening assessment on the grounds of authenticity and construct representation. However large-scale tests have tended to feature only native-speaker varieties in listening test input owing to concerns about the intelligibility of L2 accents, construct validity and acceptability. This book presents a mixed-methods study designed to address these concerns. Versions of the University Test of English as a Second Language (UTESL) featuring Australian English, Japanese and Mandarin Chinese accented speakers were used to explore the potential for a shared-L1 or familiarity advantage, and to investigate test-takers' attitudes towards L2 accents on a listening test. Implications are drawn for test development and for future research.