College and University Reading-while-listening: students’ attitudes and actions more

Sat, Aug 6, 16:30-16:50 Asia/Tokyo

Remote lessons prompted the shift of extensive reading (ER) assignments from paper books to digital libraries making audio readings of books easily available. Any student with an Xreading account now has access to reading-while-listening (RWL). Providing second-language learners with access to vast amounts of reading and listening is undeniably beneficial; however, will learners choose RWL over reading only? 158 students with prior experience using Xreading were tasked with using RWL for their reading assignments. Questionnaires about the RWL experience indicate a broad belief (78%) that RWL is a beneficial way to learn English. 8 students agreed to follow-up interviews, and the majority of interviewees found audio enhanced the reading experience; improving their concentration and enjoyment. Yet some found it distracting and exhausting. Although a majority of students understood the benefits of RWL, it can be said that it may not suit the learner profiles of all students.