Listening Comprehension Technology

Building the Bridge from Analog to Digital

Authors

  • Linda C. Jones

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v25i3.400-419

Keywords:

Listening Comprehension, Language Acquisition and Technology, Language Labs, Analog Technologies, Digital Technologies, History of Language Learning

Abstract

Listening comprehension has had a long and ever-evolving history. Within the last 100 years, we have seen it progress from analog phonograph recordings, through the audiotape era, and into the digital realm. Questions arise as to how this evolution has proceeded, what pitfalls and accomplishments we have experienced, and where we might envision aural comprehension technology and its support of second language acquisition in the future. This article addresses the history of listening comprehension technology, presents numerous questions and answers (as they stand today) with regard to the benefits of modern listening comprehension technology, and offers suggestions as to how we can better ensure success with digital technologies and aural comprehension in the future.

References

Asher, J. (1969). The total physical response approach to second language learning. The Modern Language Journal, 53(1), 3-17.

Asher, J., Jusudo, J., & de la Torre, R. (1974). Learning a second language through commands: The second field test. The Modern Language Journal, 58(1), 24-32.

Bacon, S. (1989). Listening for real in the foreign-language classroom. Foreign Language Annals, 22(5), 543-551.

Bacon, S. (1992). Authentic listening in Spanish: How learners adjust their strategies to the difficulty of the input. Hispania, 75(4), 398-411.

Bacon, S., & Finnemann, M. (1990). A study of the attitudes, motives, and strategies of university foreign language students and their disposition to authentic oral and written input. The Modern Language Journal, 74(4), 459-473.

Balizet, S., Treder, D., & Parshall, C. G. (1999, April). The development of an audio computer-based classroom test of ESL listening skills. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Baltova, I. (1999). The effect of subtitled and staged video input on the learning and retention of content and vocabulary in a second language. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto, Canada.

Barrutia, R. (1985). Communicative CALL with artificial intelligence: Some desiderata. CALICO Journal, 3(1), 37-41.

Blaye, A., Light, P., & Rubtsov, V. (1992). Collaborative learning at the computer: How social processes ‘interface’ with human-computer interaction. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 7(2), 257-267.

Bloomfield, L. (1942). Outline guide for the practical study of foreign languages. Baltimore: Linguistic Society of America, Waverly Press.

Bork, A. (1981). Educational technology and the future. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 10(1), 3-20.

Brett, P. (1997). A comparative study of the effects of the use of multimedia on listening comprehension. System, 25(1), 39-53.

Brett, P. (1998). Using multimedia: A descriptive investigation of incidental language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 11(2), 179-200.

Brindley, G. (1998). Assessing listening abilities. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 18, 171-191.

Bueno, K., & Nelson, W. (1993). Collaborative second language learning with a contextualized computer environment. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 4(2), 177-208.

Carlson, H. (1990). Learning style and program design in interactive multimedia. Educational Technology Research and Development, 39(1), 41-48.

Carrell, P., Dunkel, P., & Mollaun, P. (2004). The effects of notetaking, lecture length, and topic on a computer-based test of ESL listening comprehension. Applied Language Learning, 14(1), 83-105.

Chang, K., & Smith, W. (1991). Cooperative learning and CALL/IVD in beginning Spanish: An experiment. The Modern Language Journal, 75(2), 205-211.

Chanier, T. (1994). Special issue introduction: Language learning. Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 5(4), 417-428.

Chapelle, C. (1998). Multimedia CALL: Lessons to be learned from research on instructed SLA. Language Learning & Technology, 2(1), 22-34. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from http://llt.msu.edu/vol2num1/article1/index.html

Chung, U. (1994). The effect of audio, a single picture, multiple pictures, or video on second-language listening comprehension. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign.

Chvany, C. (1972, December). The uses of the language laboratory in teaching intermediate and advanced Russian. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages, New York.

Clark, R. (1983). Reconsidering research in learning from media. Review of Educational Research, 53(4), 445-459.

Coniam, D. (1996). Computerized dictation for assessing listening proficiency. CALICO Journal, 13(2/3), 73-85.

Coniam, D. (1998). Interactive evaluation of listening comprehension: How the context may help. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 11(1), 35-53.

Crook, C. (1994). Computers and collaborative experience of learning. London: Routledge.

Cullen, V. (1975). Factors affecting student performance in listening comprehension and their development in the classroom. Babel, 11(1), 29-35.

de Haan, J. (2005). Acquisition of Japanese as a foreign language through a baseball video game. Foreign Language Annals, 38(2), 278-282.

Elkhafaifi, H. (2005). The effect of prelistening activities on listening comprehension in Arabic learners. Foreign Language Annals, 38(4), 505-513.

Faerch, C., & Kaspar, G. (1986). The role of comprehension in second-language learning. Applied Linguistics, 7(2), 257-274.

Farris, M., & Fischer, R. (1994). Libra [Computer Software]. San Marcos, TX: Southwesst Texas State University.

Field, J. (1998). Skills and strategies: Towards a new methodology for listening. English Language Teaching Journal, 52(2), 110-118.

Fischer, R. (1996). Interactive video listening comprehension in foreign language instruction: Development and evaluation. San Marcos, TX: Southwest Texas State University.

Fischer, W. B. (1986). Master(’)s Voice: The Victor 9000 and high-fidelity voice reproduction for CALI. CALICO Journal, 3(1), 21-31.

Flaherty, E. (1975). The effect of time-expansion on listening comprehension of high school students in second-year French classes. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.

Frommer, J. (1989). Listening, looking, and learning with MacLang. CALICO Journal, 6(1), 51-71.

Frommer, J. (1990). MacLang. [Computer Software]. Santa Barbara, CA: Intellimation.

Garrett, N. (1988). Computers in foreign language education: Teaching, learning and language-acquisition research. ADFL Bulletin, 19(3), 6-12.

Garza, T. (1991). Evaluating the use of captioned video materials in advanced foreign language learning. Foreign Language Annals, 24(2), 239-258.

Grgurovic, M., & Hegelheimer, V. (2007). Help options and multimedia listening: Student’s use of subtitles and transcripts. Language Learning & Technology, 11(1), 45-66. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://llt.msu.edu/vol11num1/grgurovic

Gruba, P. (2004). Understanding digitized second language video text. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 17(1), 51-82.

Guillory, H. (1998). The effects of keyword captions to authentic French video on learner comprehension. CALICO Journal, 15(1), 89-108.

Harris, J. (1961). Using the FL in the classroom: Twenty questions. The French Review, 34(5), 461-469.

Harvey, T. (1978). The matter with listening comprehension isn’t the ear. Hardware and software. NALLD Journal, 13(1), 8-16.

Harvey, T. (1984). Rate alteration technology and its place in the second-language comprehension curriculum. System, 12(1), 31-41.

Hendricks, H. (1994). Models of interactive videodisc development. CALICO Journal, 11(1), 53-67.

Henry, G. (1987). Computer-controlled random access audio in the comprehension approach to secondlanguage learning. Foreign Language Annals, 20(3), 255-264.

Herron, C., Hanley, J., & Cole, S. (1995). A comparison study of two advance organizers for introducing beginning foreign language students to video. The Modern Language Journal, 79(3), 387-395.

Holec, H., & Kuhn, M. (1971). Des laboratories de langues, Pour quoi faire. In Mélanges Pédagogiques (n.p.). Nancy, France: University of Nancy, Centre de Recherches et d’Applications Pédagogiques en Langues.

Hoven, D. (1999). A model for listening and viewing comprehension in multimedia environments. Language Learning & Technology, 3(1), 88-103. Retrieved February 29, 2008, from http://llt.msu.edu/vol3num1/hoven

Hoven, D. (2003). Strategic uses of CALL: What learners use and how they react. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics, 17(1), 125-48.

Hughes, H. (1993). Khorosho! An interactive videodisc survival Russian program. Foreign Language Annals, 26(4), 391-398.

Jakobsaottir, S., & Hooper, S. (1995). Computer-assisted foreign language learning: Effects of text, context, and gender on listening comprehension and motivation. Educational Technology Research and Development, 43(4), 43-59.

Joiner, E. (1997). Teaching listening. How technology can help. In M. Bush & R. Terry (Eds.), Technology-enhanced language learning. (pp. 77-120). Lincolnwood, IL. National Textbook Company.

Jones, L. (2003). Supporting listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition with multimedia annotations: The students’ voice. CALICO Journal, 21(1), 41-65.

Jones, L. (2006a). Effects of collaboration and multimedia annotations on vocabulary learning and listening comprehension. CALICO Journal, 24(1), 33-58.

Jones, L. (2006b). Listening comprehension in multimedia environments. In L. Ducate & N. Arnold (Eds.), Calling on CALL: From theory and research to new directions in foreign language teaching. (pp. 99-126). San Marcos, TX: Computer Assisted Language Instruction Consortium.

Jones, L. (in press). Supporting student differences in listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition with multimedia annotations. CALICO Journal.

Jones, L., & Plass, J. (2002). Supporting listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition in French with multimedia annotations. The Modern Language Journal, 86(4), 546-561.

Joy, B., Lian, A., & Russell, R. (1983). Listening comprehension in foreign languages; Computing some possibilities. Babel, 18(2), 15-30.

Kalivoda, T., Morain, G., & Elkins, R. (1971). The audio-motor unit: A listening comprehension strategy that works. Foreign Language Annals, 4(4), 392-400.

Kim, W.-C. M. (1987). The Colloquial Korean Interactive Videodisc Project. CALICO Journal, 4(4), 71-81.

Knisbacher, C. (1991). Adventure in colloquial Hebrew. CALICO Journal, 8(3), 53-68.

Kozma, R. (1991). Learning with media. Review of Educational Research, 61(2), 179-211.

Larson, J., & Bush, C. (1992). Montevidisco. [Computer program]. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University.

Lavine, R. (1992). Rediscovering the audio language laboratory: Learning through communicative tasks. Hispania, 75(5), 1360-1367.

Leaver, B., Ehrman, M., & Lekic, M. (2004). Distinguished-level learning online: Support materials from LangNet and RussNet. Foreign Language Annals, 37(4), 556-566.

Leveridge, L. (1979). The potential of interactive optical videodisc systems for continuing education. Educational and Industrial Television, 11(4), 35-38.

MacWilliam, I. (1986). Video and language comprehension. English Language Teaching Journal, 40(2), 131-135.

Markham, P., & Peter, L. (2003). The influence of English language and Spanish language captions on foreign language listening/reading comprehension. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 13(3), 331-341.

Mayer, R., & Sims, V. (1994). For whom is a picture worth a thousand words? Extensions of a dual-coding theory of multimedia learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 86(3), 389-401.

McGrath, D. (1992). Hypertext, CAI, paper, or program control: Do learners benefit from choices? Journal of Research on Computing in Education, 24(4), 513-532.

Mendelsohn, D. (1998). Teaching listening. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 18, 81-101.

Meskill, C. (1996). Listening skills development through multimedia. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 6(2), 179-201.

Mueller, G. (1980). Visual contextual cues and listening comprehension: An experiment. The Modern Language Journal, 64(3), 335-340.

Mydlarski, D. (1998). Shall we dance? Applying the cooperative model to CALL. The Canadian Modern Language Review, 55(2), 124-138.

Mydlarski, D. & Paramskas, D. (1985). Template system for second language aural comprehension. CALICO Journal, 3(2), 8-12.

Nord, J. (1975). The sens-it-cell! System, 3(1), 16-23.

Otto, S., & Pusack, J. (1992). Listening Tool. [Computer software]. Iowa City, IA: PICS.

Oxford, R. (1997). Cooperative learning, collaborative learning, and interaction: Three communicative strands in the language classroom. The Modern Language Journal, 81(4), 443-456.

Paivio, A. (1971). Imagery and verbal processes. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

Paivio, A. (1986). Mental representations: A dual coding approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Pill, G. (1971). How to use the language lab without actually feeling guilty (In second year courses and above). NALLD Journal, 5(4), 35-42.

Plass, J., Chun, D., Mayer, R., & Leutner, D. (1998). Supporting visual and verbal learning preferences in a second language multimedia learning environment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(1), 25-36.

Plass, J., Chun, D., Mayer, R., & Leutner, D. (2003). Cognitive load in reading a foreign language text with multimedia aids and the influence of verbal and spatial abilities. Computers in Human Behavior, 19(2), 221-243.

Plass, J., & Jones, L. (2005). Second language acquisition with multimedia. In R. Mayer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of multimedia learning. (pp. 476-488). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Postovsky, V. (1981). The priority of aural comprehension in the language acquisition process. In H. Winitz (Ed.), The comprehension approach to foreign language instruction. (pp. 170-186). Rowley, MA: Newbury House Publishers.

Pouwels, J. (1992). The effectiveness of vocabulary visual aids for auditory and visual foreign language students. Foreign Language Annals, 25(3), 391-401.

Pusack, J. (1999). The Kontakte multimedia project at the University of Iowa. CALICO Journal, 17(10), 25-42.

Pusack, J., & Otto, S. (1992). Dasher authoring system. [Computer Software]. Iowa City: CONDUIT.

Pusack, J., & Otto, S. (1997). Taking control of multimedia. In M. Bush & R. Terry (Eds.), Technologyenhanced language learning (pp. 1-46). Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company.

Pusack, J., & Tschirner, E. (1996). Blickkontakte video to accompany Kontakte: A communicative approach (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.

Quinn, D. (1975). The lab sheet; Making the lab teach. Foreign Language Annals, 8(2), 144-148.

Raphan, D. (1996). A multimedia approach to academic listening. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Journal, 6(2), 24-28.

Reagan, S., Fox, T., & Bleich, D. (1994). Writing with: New directions in collaborative teaching, learning and research. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Reinert, H. (1976). One picture is worth a thousand words? Not necessarily. The Modern Language Journal, 60(2), 160-168.

Richard-Amato, P. A. (1996). Making it happen (2nd ed.). White Plains, NY: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company.

Rivers, W. (1966). Listening comprehension. The Modern Language Journal, 50(4), 196-204.

Rubrecht, R. (1977). Making the language laboratory work. Notes on an integrated approach. Alberta Modern Language Journal, 16(1), 6-25.

Russell, C., & Cottave, J. (1989). La Marée et ses secrets. Chicago, IL: Films Incorporated.

Severin, W. (1967). Cue summation in multiple channel communication. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Shiu, K., & Smaldino, S. (1993). A pilot study: Comparing the use of computer-based instruction materials and audio-tape materials in practicing Chinese. In Proceedings of Selected Research and Development Presentations at the Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (pp. 949-951). New Orleans.

Smidt, E., & Hegelheimer, V. (2004). Effects of online academic lectures on ESL listening comprehension, incidental vocabulary acquisition, and strategy use. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 17(5), 517-556.

Smith, P. (1980). A study of the effect of slowed speech on listening comprehension in French. NALLD Journal, 14(3-4), 9-13.

Stevens, V. (1983). A report of a project illustrating the feasibility of video computer interface for use in ESL. CALICO Journal, 1(1), 27-30, 50.

Stone, L. (1988). Task-based activities: A communicative approach to language laboratory use. Philadelphia, PA: International Association for Learning Laboratories.

Swain, M., & Lapkin, S. (1995). Problems in output and the cognitive processes they generate: A step towards second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 16(3), 371-391.

Sweller, J. (1994). Cognitive load theory, learning difficulty, and instructional design. Learning and Instruction, 4(3), 295-312.

Szostek, C. (1994). Assessing the effects of cooperative learning in an honors foreign language classroom. Foreign Language Annals, 27(2), 252-261.

Taylor, G. (2005). Perceived processing strategies of students watching captioned video. Foreign Language Annals, 38(3), 422-427.

Terrell, T. (1977). A natural approach to second language acquisition and learning. The Modern Language Journal, 61(3), 325-337.

Terrell, T. (1996). Kontakte, A communicative approach. New York: McGraw Hill.

Thompson, I., & Rubin, J. (1996). Can strategy instruction improve listening comprehension? Foreign Language Annals, 29(3), 331-342.

Thorne, S., & Payne, J. (2005). Evolutionary trajectories, internet-mediated expression, and language education. CALICO Journal, 22(3), 371-397.

University of Texas. (2004). Français interactif. [Web site]. Available at http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi

Vandergrift, L. (1997). The Cinderella of communication strategies: Reception strategies in interactive listening. The Modern Language Journal, 81(4), 494-505.

Webb, S. (1985). The stages in the development of a prototype CALI using interactive video. CALICO Journal, 3(2), 38-40.

Weinberg, A. (2002). Virtual misadventures: Technical problems and student satisfaction when implementing multimedia in an advanced French listening comprehension course. CALICO Journal, 19(2), 331-357.

Whiskeyman, A. L. (1990). Development of IVD materials using non-native language mediation. CALICO Journal, 8(1), 75-86.

Wilberschied, L., & Berman, P. (2004). Effect of using photos from authentic video as advance organizers on listening comprehension in an FLES Chinese class. Foreign Language Annals, 37(4), 534-543.

Wolff, D. (1987). Some assumptions about second language text comprehension. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 9(2), 307-326.

Yano, Y., Long, M., & Ross, S. (1994). The effects of simplified and elaborated texts on foreign language reading comprehension. Language Learning, 44(1), 189-219.

Zhao, Y. (1997). The effects of listeners’ control of speech rate on second language comprehension. Applied Linguistics, 18(1), 49-68.

Downloads

Published

2013-01-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Jones, L. C. (2013). Listening Comprehension Technology: Building the Bridge from Analog to Digital. CALICO Journal, 25(3), 400-419. https://doi.org/10.1558/cj.v25i3.400-419