Listening Strategy Applications by Learners under the Context of Multimodality

Abstract

While listening comprehension is one of the foundations for effective communication, the teaching and learning of listening is usually limited to conventional methods. Fortunately, with the development of technology, particularly 3D virtual reality, such limits as time and space encountered in a conventional classroom can be overcome. This study recruited 27 beginners in Chinese and arranged these participants to take 4 listening comprehension tests, 2 tests with Second Life (SL) as the listening comprehension support and 2 tests with printed pictures. To examine how both types of support influence the adoption of listening strategies while taking Chinese listening comprehension tests, the researchers collected research data with questionnaires and interviews. Overall, more metacognitive strategies than cognitive strategies were adopted. This research has also identified the most and the least commonly used strategies with SL and printed pictures as the listening support.