TESOL and ETS Announce 2014 TESOL Award for Distinguished Research

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Dr. Stephen Bax's article introduces the first ever use of eye tracking technology to research cognitive processing in language tests.

TESOL

This research was able to show the value of the technology in helping us to get a deeper understanding of our students' reading behavior, as a platform for helping them to read more effectively in the future under onscreen test conditions

TESOL International Association and ETS’s TOEFL® Program are pleased to announce that Stephen Bax is the recipient of the 2014 TESOL Award for Distinguished Research. The award honors an author who has completed an empirical research project and a subsequent scholarly paper that was published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Dr. Bax will be recognized at the opening session of the 2014 TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Dr. Bax is being honored for his paper “The Cognitive Processing of Candidates During Reading Tests: Evidence From Eye Tracking,” published in Language Testing. The article introduces the first ever use of eye tracking technology to research cognitive processing in language tests.

"I am honored that my research has been chosen for the 2014 TESOL Award for Distinguished Research," said Bax. "Although eye-tracking can't tell us everything, . . . this research was able to show the value of the technology in helping us to get a deeper understanding of our students' reading behavior, as a platform for helping them to read more effectively in the future under onscreen test conditions."

Stephen Bax is Professor of Applied Linguistics at the Center for English Language Research and Assessment, University of Bedfordshire, UK, where he is involved in researching language learning. His research interests include the use of computers in language learning and language testing, and areas of discourse including computer-mediated discourse analysis. He also has published on discourse, reading, and computer technology in language education.

The winner of the TESOL Award for Distinguished Research receives US$1,000; a free one-year membership in TESOL International Association; a one-year subscription to TESOL Quarterly; and registration, travel, and accommodations for the TESOL International Convention & English Language Expo. The award recipient also delivers a presentation on the winning research at the TESOL convention.

About TESOL International Association
Founded in 1966, TESOL International Association is a professional community of educators, researchers, administrators, and students committed to advancing excellence in English language teaching for speakers of other languages worldwide. With more than 13,000 members representing over 150 countries, TESOL fosters the exchange of ideas, research, and peer-to-peer knowledge, and provides expertise, resources, and a powerful voice on issues affecting the profession. Through professional development programs, its international conference, special interest groups, and publications, TESOL engages tens of thousands of professionals to collaborate globally and create a world of opportunity for millions of people of all ages who want to learn English. For more information, please visit http://www.tesol.org.

About the TOEFL Test
The TOEFL test is the most widely accepted English-language assessment worldwide, recognized by more than 9,000 institutions in more than 130 countries including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. To date, more than 27 million students have taken the TOEFL test. More information regarding the TOEFL test, including registration, study tips and sample questions, is available on the TOEFL® Go Anywhere website at http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org.

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