Investigating Multimedia Strategies to Aid L2 Listening Comprehension in EFL Environment

Abstract

Arab learners may experience a great difficulty in attending to listening comprehension activities due to different chunks of the target language they are engaged in. As such, learners should be informed as to what is the best technique that helped them overcome this difficulty. This paper attempts to investigate the efficacy of using visual multimedia technique (i.e., video mode + test) in multimedia language settings to aid L2 listening comprehension. Sixty adult students watched video conversations provided with texts plus animation for 10 modules, while the control group listened to the same material delivered by audio tracks for the same period of time. The students were post-tested immediately after treatment and retested after delayed point of time. The students' perceptions towards the use of multimedia modes were gathered using a survey. The quantitative results showed a significant effect of visual stimulus over the auditory mode in gaining L2 listening comprehension. Limitations and directions for future research are summarized in this study.