Exploring potential use of language testing to foster environmental education

Abstract

Environmental education is commonly integrated into classroom materials of many subjects to support SDGs. The topic on environment is potentially used in language testing. This will allow washback effect of the learning of the environmental issues which, hence, increase the test takers awareness. The present study aims to identify the potential benefits of integrating environmental issues into language testing. According to the study, integration of the topics should be done with caution to avoid construct-irrelevant variance. Unfamiliar topics frequently cause some issues in language testing, discouraging the test takers to rely on their background knowledge rather than their mere language competence. Thus, selection of topics should be done by also considering the objectives of the environmental education itself.