Kang, Okim; Yan, Xun; Kostromitina, Masha; Thomson, Ron; Isaacs, Talia; (2026) Test takers’ attitudes towards a variety of accents in listening tasks of the Duolingo English Test. Language Assessment Quarterly (In press).

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Abstract

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 towards the inclusion of different English accents in the Duolingo English Test (DET) 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 towards 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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