EBS TestPreparation Books: A Diagnostic Analysis

1
EBS Test-Preparation Books A Diagnostic Analysis

• Dr. Andrew E. Finch

2
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.

3
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 ?? test (CSAT),
  which is influenced by the EBS books.

4
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

5
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).

6
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.

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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

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