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Secrets of taking a successful listening comprehension test Robert Märcz

Secrets of taking a successful listening comprehension test Robert Märcz Foreign Language Centre University of Pécs. Outline. Questions of listening comprehension Influencing factors Context, participants and instruments Results Conclusions.

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Secrets of taking a successful listening comprehension test Robert Märcz

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  1. Secrets of taking a successful listening comprehension test Robert Märcz Foreign Language Centre University of Pécs EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  2. Outline • Questions of listening comprehension • Influencing factors • Context, participants and instruments • Results • Conclusions EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  3. Particular Features of Listening Comprehension 50% of our communication time Complex process (top-down / bottom-up) Various use of different strategies Cannot be observed directly EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  4. What influences Objective factors: Task characteristics Text characteristics Situation-specific factors: quality of the input actual circumstances EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  5. What influences Subjective factors: L2 proficiency (in general) L2 listening ability (in particular) Memory and attention Background knowledge Experiences – exposure Interest and motivation Use of strategies EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  6. Context and participants ECL International Language Examination System Level – B2 Listening comprehension test Two tasks: multiple choice (three options) (Eve’s Life) short answer (Judy Bloom) Online questionnaire Cc 500 answers within the first two week (cc 30%) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  7. The Questionnaire Three parts: • Background data (7 items) • Statements concerning the factors that influence listening comprehension (Influencing factors = motivation, aptitude, memory, confidence, preparation and exposure to L2) (30 items) • Statements concerning strategies (cognitive and meta-cognitive)(16 items) /Likert scale: 1 -4 / not anonym - EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  8. Procedure Concentrate only on influencing factors (2nd part) Data on the performance of the test-takers and the questionnaire compared Quantitative analysis: simple frequencies, percentages and standard deviation calculated EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  9. Results and analysis I need the language exam – 3.83 A language exam may always come in useful – 3.81 I regularly listen to music in English – 3.71 I like the English language – 3.59 I like the sound of English – 3.48 I can learn easily – 3.11 I regularly watch films inEnglish with subtitles- 3.06 /standard deviation.497 - .684 / Commonalities: motivation, aptitude and exposure EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  10. Results and analysis Correlations between test performance and influencing factors Concentrating only on significant correlation (i) intrinsic motivation (ii) confidence (iii) preparation (iv) exposure to L2. EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  11. Results and analysis Three steps: 1. bivariate correlation: test performance and influencing factor(consisting of several items) 2. bivariate correlation: between test performance and each of the statements(constituting a particular influencing factor) separately 3. Cross tabulation (batch correlations) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  12. Results and analysis Intrinsic motivation Significant and weak, correlation (0.195) I like the English language (0.261) I like the sound of English (0.180) (I like the American culture / I am interested in British culture) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  13. Results and analysis EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  14. Results and analysis Confidence Significant and almost moderate correlation (0.358) I am good at listening comprehension (0.379) I can understand English films well (0.336) Other items (0.218 – 0.273) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  15. Results and analysis EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  16. Results and analysis Preparation No significant correlation with this influencing factor BUT significant and weak correlation with one statement: I came well prepared for the listening comprehension test (0.152) Others: I practiced listening comprehension exercises We completed many LP exercises with my teacher EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  17. Results and analysis Exposure to L2 Significant and weak, correlation (0.280) Correlations: (0.129 – 0.299) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  18. Results and analysis EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  19. Conclusions There is significant though mainly weak correlation between test performance and confidence (0.358) exposureto L2 (0.280) intrinsic motivation (0.195) preparation (0.152) EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  20. Conclusions As the construct of any language tests is the language knowledge itself the results mean that: • the test is not biased • it measures the construct • there are some factors that do provide advantages EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

  21. Thank you for your attention! EAS Conference - Miskolc, June 15, 2012

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