ERIC Number: EJ968784
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0742-7778
EISSN: N/A
L2 Learners' Engagement with High Stakes Listening Tests: Does Technology Have a Beneficial Role to Play?
East, Martin; King, Chris
CALICO Journal, v29 n2 p208-223 Jan 2012
In the listening component of the IELTS examination candidates hear the input once, delivered at "normal" speed. This format for listening can be problematic for test takers who often perceive normal speed input to be too fast for effective comprehension. The study reported here investigated whether using computer software to slow down the tempo of listening input, without reducing its pitch, makes a difference to test takers in "listen-once" tests, measured by both their performance in and their perceptions of the test. In an independent groups design, participants (n=120) took tests reduced in tempo by various amounts. It was found that slower speed input led to increases in performance. The slower the speed of delivery the less likely the participants were to perceive the test as difficult and the less speed became an issue. Although it is unlikely that this technology will lead language testers to modify high-stakes listening test procedures, we conclude that the facility to slow down tempo using freely available technology may be beneficial in classroom and self-directed study contexts as a scaffolding measure as students get used to "once only at normal speed" listening scenarios or prepare for high-stakes tests. (Contains 2 notes and 5 tables.)
Descriptors: Listening Comprehension Tests, Language Tests, High Stakes Tests, Computer Software, Second Language Learning, Educational Technology, Computer Assisted Testing, Linguistic Input, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), English (Second Language), Second Language Instruction, Foreign Countries
Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium. 214 Centennial Hall, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666. Tel: 512-245-1417; Fax: 512-245-9089; e-mail: info@calico.org: Web site: http://calico.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Zealand
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A