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EBS Test-Preparation Books: A Diagnostic Analysis. Dr. Andrew E. Finch. Introduction. This presentation is based on the EBS English-study books available in April, 2004. The analysis identified problems that were symptomatic of deeper issues.
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EBS Test-Preparation Books: A Diagnostic Analysis Dr. Andrew E. Finch
Introduction • This presentation is based on the EBS English-study books available in April, 2004. • The analysis identified problems that were symptomatic of deeper issues. • This presentation offers constructive recommendations to solve (cure) the problems producing the symptoms.
Introduction • Before presenting the cure, it is necessary to examine the sickness. • This diagnostic analysis was carried out with positive intentions: • to improve the standard of test-preparation materials represented by the EBS books; • to improve the learning opportunities of students in Korea; • to have a positive effect on the 수능test (CSAT), which is influenced by the EBS books.
The Books • High school English listening: EBS – FM radio programs 2004/2/2 – 7/4 • Analysis of possible CSAT questions; foreign language section: 2004/2/2 – 4/25 • CSAT English grammar special class: Internet advanced level • English reading method: Internet beginner level • First grade CSAT vocabulary special class: Internet advanced level • English reading practice (1): Internet advanced level • English reading practice (2): Internet advanced level • EBS CSAT special class; foreign language section: 2004/2/2/ – 7/4
The Problems: • grammatical inaccuracies (159 instances); • incorrect answers to multiple-choice questions and reading passages (7 instances); • more than one appropriate response to multiple-choice questions (14 instances); • poorly-constructed passages (not conforming to the rules of paragraph construction) (24 instances); • illogical passages (poor expositions of unfounded, opinion-based arguments) (54 instances); • inappropriate use of the target language (especially in listening scripts) (36 instances); • inappropriate content (racist, sexist, discriminatory) (44 instances); • repetition of passages in different books (16 instances).
The Presentation • This presentation will present some sample errors and inconsistencies. • Recommendations will then be made for the EBS books and for the testing scene in Korea. • The first category to be considered is that of grammatical errors.
1: Grammar (159 errors) • Each person needs to find the right combination of diet and excercise. • English reading practice (2), p. 47, item 2, line 7 • He got a help from his son. • English reading practice (1), p. 112, item 5, line 7 • I am thinking to clean my apartment. • High school English listening, p. 86, item 1, line 3 • You might as well as throw your money into the river as lend it to him. • First grade CSAT vocabulary special class, p. 15 Short version Long version