TY - JOUR
T1 - Test Takers’ Attitudes Toward Varieties of Accents in Listening Tasks of the Duolingo English Test (2021 test version)
AU - Kang, Okim
AU - Kostromitina, Maria
AU - Yan, Xu
AU - Thomson, Ron I.
AU - Isaacs, Talia
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - There has been much debate in assessment research about the inclusion of Global English accents in high-stakes listening tests. This study explored test-takers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of different English accents in the Duolingo English Test (DET) 2021 test version and their associations with listening test scores. One hundred sixty English learners from four language backgrounds (Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Latin American Spanish) completed yes/no vocabulary and dictation tasks that simulated the listening sections of the DET. The tasks included speech produced by English speakers of the same language background as the listeners, as well as American and British English. Learners completed a survey that elicited their attitudes toward non-standard English accents in proficiency tests. Exploratory factor analysis of survey responses revealed two contrasting trends in learners’ attitudes. Constructed responses suggested that while listeners generally preferred prestigious English models (e.g. American English or British English), they also expressed a need for incorporating other accent varieties. The relationships between listeners’ attitudes and their performance on the test were minimal (r <.26). The findings hint at a deeper understanding of test takers’ needs regarding accent varieties in listening tests. The study offers implications for the development of high-stakes English listening tests in global contexts.
AB - There has been much debate in assessment research about the inclusion of Global English accents in high-stakes listening tests. This study explored test-takers’ attitudes toward the inclusion of different English accents in the Duolingo English Test (DET) 2021 test version and their associations with listening test scores. One hundred sixty English learners from four language backgrounds (Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Latin American Spanish) completed yes/no vocabulary and dictation tasks that simulated the listening sections of the DET. The tasks included speech produced by English speakers of the same language background as the listeners, as well as American and British English. Learners completed a survey that elicited their attitudes toward non-standard English accents in proficiency tests. Exploratory factor analysis of survey responses revealed two contrasting trends in learners’ attitudes. Constructed responses suggested that while listeners generally preferred prestigious English models (e.g. American English or British English), they also expressed a need for incorporating other accent varieties. The relationships between listeners’ attitudes and their performance on the test were minimal (r <.26). The findings hint at a deeper understanding of test takers’ needs regarding accent varieties in listening tests. The study offers implications for the development of high-stakes English listening tests in global contexts.
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U2 - 10.1080/15434303.2024.2448963
DO - 10.1080/15434303.2024.2448963
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85215508880
SN - 1543-4303
JO - Language Assessment Quarterly
JF - Language Assessment Quarterly
ER -