The effects of digital audio files and online discussions on student proficiency in a foreign language

摘要

One of the biggest struggles a foreign language teacher faces is moving her students from reading and writing in the target language to speaking and listening in the target language. This study focuses on how the use of digital audio files (e.g. Podcasts), online discussions and student anxiety can affect a student\u27s ability to comprehend and speak in a second language. Students gained experience with native speech in the foreign language by listening to weekly audio files and held weekly discussions both in the traditional face-to-face format as well as in online discussions. Students also participated in pre- and post-study self-analysis of anxiety levels. The findings showed improvement in both comprehension and speaking abilities in the target language. The findings also brought to light the interconnectedness of all literacy areas (reading, writing, listening, speaking) and how improvement in one area can also bring improvement in another.