Two out of three Spaniards cannot speak or write in English, according to a recent report from the Centre for Sociological Research. This alarming figure is due, to a large extent, to the current teaching methods of English in primary and secondary schools, as well as the low level of English expected of students in compulsory education.
A study carried out in the Department of English and German Philology at the University of Granada (Universidad de Granada) by researcher Miguel Fernández Álvarez and led by researcher Inmaculada Sanz Sainz highlighted the deficiencies of the English examination (which has scarcely changed since it was introduced in 1984) that Spanish students need to pass along with other University entrance examinations. The study proposed a new model that would replace the current English examination and would improve the level of English of Spanish students.
This study also provided other interesting information. Most secondary school teachers and students are not very satisfied with the current English paper of the University entrance examination, and believe that some changes are necessary to improve it, according to a survey conducted by the researchers of the study.
“The English paper of the Spanish University entrance examination attaches too much importance to grammar, vocabulary and reading comprehension — except in few Spanish regions like Catalonia — and does not assess oral skills such as listening and speaking, so these skills are not trained properly in class,” said researchers Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz.
The necessity to speak a foreign language
When using a foreign language, speaking it properly is as important (and useful) as writing it correctly. “This is one of the most serious deficiencies of the current Spanish educational system and the English paper of the University entrance examination — they do not require students to develop oral skills, which impoverishes the learning process of a foreign language,” said Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz.
The study pointed out that the English paper of the Spanish University entrance examination does not meet the guidelines set by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which was put together by the Council of Europe to provide a method of assessing and teaching which applies to all languages in Europe.
“If Spain wants its English examinations to be recognised in other European countries, they should be adapted to the guidelines set by the CEFR,” stated Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz, who think that the Spanish educational institutions have enough means to apply a proper work methodology. “This could be achieved by simply having a team in charge of this matter.”
A comprehensive examination
Researchers Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz designed a new English examination adapted to the real needs of the educational system. Apart from a listening test, it includes a speaking test in which the students’ oral skills are recorded. Moreover, this new model is more reliable compared to the current one, as it has been shown that many students answer the examination questions correctly by chance (for example, true or false questions).
Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz conducted a pilot study of their examination model in 144 students from secondary school and first-year students of English Philology from Seville and Granada in three different phases. The study led to an eclectic examination model developed from studies of other renowned researchers. The authors of this study also proposed that the written expression test be evaluated by at least two persons (double marking) like other European countries do. “As the criteria by which this part of the examination is marked are absolutely subjective,” pointed out Miguel Fernández and Inmaculada Sanz.
Part of the results of this study were presented at international conferences such as the European Association of Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA) 2005, which took place in Voss (Norway), and the Midwest Association of Language Testers (MwALT) 2006, in Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (US). They have also been published in the book Estudios y criterios para una Selectividad de calidad en el examen de inglés (Studies and Criteria for a quality English paper in the University entrance examination), published by the Editorial Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.
Reference: Miguel Fernández Álvarez and Inmaculada Sanz Sainz. Department of English and German Philology of the University of Granada. Telephone: +34 958 243 674. Mobile: 001 7739 885 236. E-mail: migfdez@gmail.com and isanz@ugr.es