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Linguistic Progression in IELTS Speaking and Learner Background Factors

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Title: Linguistic Progression in IELTS Speaking and Learner Background Factors
Language: English
Authors: Okim Kang (ORCID 0000-0002-7721-5283), Kate Yaw (ORCID 0000-0002-4382-9762), Hyunkee Ahn (ORCID 0009-0006-7676-4420)
Source: Language Teaching Research Quarterly. 2025 51:353-375.
Availability: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Language Tests, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Foreign Countries, Language Proficiency, Pretests Posttests, Scores, Pronunciation, Language Fluency, Oral Language, Adults, Language Rhythm, Intonation
Geographic Terms: South Korea (Seoul)
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: International English Language Testing System
ISSN: 2667-6753
Abstract: This study examined the degree of change in test takers' speaking performances over a 3-month period. Furthermore, it investigated the impact of learner background variables on learners' linguistic progresses. Fifty-two Korean learners of English, who were enrolled in IELTS preparation classes, took part in the study. Their proficiency was initially established using scores from an in-house placement instrument. Upon completing a preliminary questionnaire, participants sat for an officially-administered IELTS pre-test. Their language learning data were collected each week by survey. A final questionnaire was then completed after 12 weeks of study, immediately following the official IELTS post-test. For speech analysis (i.e., lexico-grammatical and pronunciation features), pre- and post-test individual long-run speaking responses were coded to examine participants' linguistic gains over time. Findings indicated that fluency features improved most significantly over time, although the relationships between speech construct changes and learner background variables were more complex. Implications of these findings are useful for curriculum planning and for developing of language assessment and testing, as well as validity evidence for the IELTS speaking test.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1494827
Database: ERIC
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  Availability: 0
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  Data: Linguistic Progression in IELTS Speaking and Learner Background Factors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Okim+Kang%22">Okim Kang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7721-5283">0000-0002-7721-5283</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kate+Yaw%22">Kate Yaw</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4382-9762">0000-0002-4382-9762</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hyunkee+Ahn%22">Hyunkee Ahn</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7676-4420">0009-0006-7676-4420</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language+Teaching+Research+Quarterly%22"><i>Language Teaching Research Quarterly</i></searchLink>. 2025 51:353-375.
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  Data: European Knowledge Development (EUROKD). e-mail: editorial@eurokd.com; Web site: https://www.eurokd.com/journal/jd/1
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  Data: 23
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Tests%22">Language Tests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+Language+Learning%22">Second Language Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22English+%28Second+Language%29%22">English (Second Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pretests+Posttests%22">Pretests Posttests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scores%22">Scores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pronunciation%22">Pronunciation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Fluency%22">Language Fluency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Oral+Language%22">Oral Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Rhythm%22">Language Rhythm</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intonation%22">Intonation</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Korea+%28Seoul%29%22">South Korea (Seoul)</searchLink>
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  Data: This study examined the degree of change in test takers' speaking performances over a 3-month period. Furthermore, it investigated the impact of learner background variables on learners' linguistic progresses. Fifty-two Korean learners of English, who were enrolled in IELTS preparation classes, took part in the study. Their proficiency was initially established using scores from an in-house placement instrument. Upon completing a preliminary questionnaire, participants sat for an officially-administered IELTS pre-test. Their language learning data were collected each week by survey. A final questionnaire was then completed after 12 weeks of study, immediately following the official IELTS post-test. For speech analysis (i.e., lexico-grammatical and pronunciation features), pre- and post-test individual long-run speaking responses were coded to examine participants' linguistic gains over time. Findings indicated that fluency features improved most significantly over time, although the relationships between speech construct changes and learner background variables were more complex. Implications of these findings are useful for curriculum planning and for developing of language assessment and testing, as well as validity evidence for the IELTS speaking test.
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  Data: 2026
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
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        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 353
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Language Tests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Second Language Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: English (Second Language)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
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      – SubjectFull: Pretests Posttests
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scores
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pronunciation
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      – SubjectFull: Language Fluency
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      – SubjectFull: Oral Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Language Rhythm
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      – SubjectFull: Intonation
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      – SubjectFull: South Korea (Seoul)
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      – SubjectFull: International English Language Testing System
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      – TitleFull: Linguistic Progression in IELTS Speaking and Learner Background Factors
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