Open AccessInternational Graduate Students’ Perspectives on High-Stakes English Tests and the Language Demands of Higher Education
Author(s) -
Shakina Rajendram,
Elizabeth Larson,
Jeanne Sinclair
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
language and literacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1496-0974
DOI - 10.20360/langandlit29428
Subject(s) - test of english as a foreign language , gatekeeping , language proficiency , thematic analysis , internationalization , language assessment , higher education , psychology , medical education , mathematics education , pedagogy , perception , qualitative research , political science , sociology , medicine , social science , law , economics , microeconomics , neuroscience
The internationalization of higher education in Canada has given rise to the increased use of standardized English language proficiency tests as gatekeeping measures in university admission policies. However, many international students who are successful on these tests still struggle with the academic and language demands of their programs. Drawing on a thematic analysis of life story interviews with five international graduate students at a major Canadian university, this study examines students’ perceptions on the skills elicited by the IELTS and TOEFL, the language demands and pragmatic norms of their graduate program in language education, and the university’s language support programs.