Test of English for International Communication?

I'm going to teach the TOEIC preparation course this school year. The exam is getting more and more common in Japan. When I was in high school, STEP (test organized by the Society for Testing English Proficiency) was still more common than the TOEIC. Things have totally changed, though.

Even ESL programs in North America often provides TOEIC preparation courses, although the targets are mostly Japanese.

My concern is whether or not the TOEIC is really a test of English for International Communication. I kind of doubt it. Even ESL teachers in the US hardly know what the exam is. And people who got high scores speak English a little. Maybe this is not only because of the quality of this exam but also Japanese people who try to only gain high scores but who do not want to make efforts to improve four language skills slowly and steadily.

Real speaking and listening skills must be learned only through real interaction in the English language.

According to Wikipedia:

There are an estimated 3 million test takers in 60 different countries per year, but most of those are Japanese and South Koreans. For that reason, the TOEIC test is virtually unknown outside Japan, Korea and some of their neighbouring countries in East Asia. Its precursor, the TOEFL test, has more international recognition and prestige. However, things are gradually changing in Europe. (See below: TOEIC in Europe)

The questions attempt to reenact international business environments and contain vocabulary and usage that are not necessarily needed in everyday life. Even a native speaker will find it hard to get full marks unless they have a good educational background, which strongly suggests it is not a true test of English communicative competence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOEIC