Preparation for Central Common Examination is not a Torment but Fun

摘要

The major goal of this study is to sweep away the bias that an exam preparation process is a torment in which the candidates focus on only the acquisition of exam topics and particular techniques to solve the multiple-choice tests in a barren atmosphere. For this purpose, the study aims at finding ways to increase motivation by decreasing test anxiety over English tests by providing an ?enjoyable? preparatory stage for exam candidates. To enlighten our way, students? attitude towards English language and tests, their present competencies in language skills, their reason to learn English and their best motivating activities were learned using an ?attitude scale? and a ?multiple-choice questionnaire?. Our participants were nineteen 8 th grade students preparing for Central Common Examination (CCE) in Turkey in which the candidates are examined in all school subjects including English countrywide. The ?attitude scale? has shown that most students have positive attitude towards learning English but negative to English tests. The questionnaire revealed that the students feel the most competent in receptive skills and the least in productive ones. Among the possible motivating activities, songs, games and movies are found most motivating by the students. Using the data, the preparatory lessons and materials were planned in a task-based fashion. To screen the process and its results all pilot exams and real CCE results were put on record. These have proven that the students can be prepared for CCE pretty successfully by simply ?having fun?.