An Evaluation of a Listening Comprehension Program

Abstract

This chapter examines the effect of an individualized Computer-Enhanced Language Learning Listening Comprehension Program (MMExplore) on students’ listening comprehension ability in the context of learning English as a Foreign Language in the Thai University system. MMExplore is an audio-visual media browser which is designed to provide learners with a wide variety of ways to interact with authentic listening texts. In 2003, MMExplore was used by twenty first year students of the Suranaree University of Technology (SUT), Thailand for a period of fifteen weeks with a minimum of four hours of training per week to evaluate the effect of this program on student performance. Various forms of evaluation, both qualitative and quantitative, were used. The findings of this research suggest that (a) there is an observable gain in students listening comprehension ability in English after training; and (b) the majority of the students were favourably towards this program.