Comparison of Differences in TOEFL and TEM and Its Implications for Chinese Higher Education
Zeng Yueying *
School of English for International Business, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510420, China
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In perspective of scoring criteria, topic settings, and testing emphases, this paper, by comparing the writing task of TOEFL and TEM-8, tried to analyze cultural differences reflected in those two exams, and to put forth some suggestions in English teaching of higher education in China. Based on the research, Chinese higher education on English should strike balance between linguistic foundation and comprehensive ability, autonomous learning and class teaching, and cultural competence and language competence.
Keywords: Comparison, TOEFL, TEM-8, writing task, English teaching, higher education