A Study of Learner-centered Listening Materials in Foreign Language Acquisition

论文摘要

The importance of listening in language learning can never be overestimated. Through reception, we build up our linguistic system without which we cannot speak o r w rite. In o rder to train a dult s tudents’ listening s kills w ith s uccess, i t i s necessary that listening materials must be regularly adjusted according to students’ current level and the progress they are making.The main objective of this thesis is to find out non-English-majors’ attitudes towards second language listening materials and generalize the characteristics of learner-centered second language listening materials that aim to meet non-English-majors’ requirements and provide a better insight into the nature of listening materials and their development.The study is mainly composed of three sections, namely, personal information, students’ attitudes toward English learning and personal interests, and students’ attitudes toward English listening training and listening materials.Findings of this study support the following points. Firstly, non-English-major undergraduates attach great importance to listening materials. Secondly, factors that affect students’ listening comprehension are: large vocabulary, fast rate of delivery, and great information density. Thirdly, interesting listening materials relating to what students have learned at an appropriate difficulty level are preferable.

论文目录

• Acknowledgements
• Abstract
• Chapter I: Introduction
• 1.1 Present Study
• 1.2 Contents of this Thesis
• Chapter II: Theories of Second Language Acquisition （SLA）
• 2.1 The Input Hypothesis
• 2.1.1 Background Knowledge
• 2.1.2 Comprehensible Input
• 2.1.3 Affective Filters
• 2.1.4 The Relationship Between Comprehensible Input and Intake
• 2.2 Cognitive Learning
• 2.2.1 Comprehension and Learning
• 2.2.2 Memory
• Chapter III: Theories of Needs Analysis
• 3.1 Background Knowledge
• 3.2 Learners'Needs
• 3.2.1 Definitions
• 3.2.2 Categories of Learners'Needs
• 3.3 Approaches to Needs Analysis
• 3.4 Needs Analysis in EFL Teaching
• Chapter IV: Listening Comprehension
• 4.1 Background Knowledge
• 4.2 The Definition of Listening
• 4.2.1 Types of Listening
• 4.2.2 The Process of Listening
• 4.3 The Characteristics of Listening
• 4.3.1 The Characteristics of Listening
• 4.3.2 The Characteristics of Real-life Listening Situations
• 4.3.3 Real-life Listening in Classroom Setting
• 4.4 What makes Listening Difficult?
• 4.5 The Relationship between Listening Comprehension and EFL learning
• Chapter V: Findings and Evidence
• 5.1 Overview
• 5.2 Questionnaire
• 5.2.1 Structure of the Questionnaire
• 5.2.2 Full-scale Questionnaire Survey
• 5.3 Findings
• 5.3.1 Finding 1 and its Evidence
• 5.3.2 Finding 2 and its Evidence
• 5.3.3 Finding 3 and its Evidence
• Chapter VI: Conclusion
• Appendix:听力材料调查表
• Bibliography