System Design for Academic Listening of Second Language Based on Strategy Object Mashups Approach

Abstract

Most foreign students studying abroad lack of effective academic listening ability which is considered to be essential for them to achieve their academic successes. Moreover, as listening comprehension ability is also considered to be the most difficult to improve in contrast with the other three (Reading, Speaking and Writing), the purpose of this research is to support the training of academic listening skills for students pursuing academic success in a foreign educational institute. We have identified several learning strategies proved to be effective for cultivating academic listening skills from related work and built up the respective strategy models. Based on the established strategy models, we are now in the process of designing and developing various strategy objects (function units), so as the mashups environment where these objects can be assembled and operated. Unlike previous learning systems that provided identical functions to the learners, this research is expected to provide the learners with self-adjustable learning environment by putting together various strategy objects provided. We also attach semantic meanings (listening strategies and tactics) to each object to improve the metacognitive awareness of strategy application of the learners, for the effectiveness in listening practice as proved in past studies. Furthermore, a feedback agent is to be implemented to recommend proper strategy objects to the learners based on their learning situations. As a result, the learners are expected to be able to: practice their listening under an adaptive learning environment, strengthen their metacognitive awareness of the strategy application, and adjust their learning environment constantly with the support of the feedback agent or through peer
reviews.