More to the point: The importance of focussed listening for the improved comprehension of a foreign language
Abstract
FauvoT is an inter-departmental project in the field of foreign language teaching at the University of Graz, Austria. Its aim is to evaluate the efficiency of an innovative approach to language teaching that focuses on the influence of concentrated listening as a means to accelerating language learning and to consider its appropriacy for a university context.
This paper presents results from students' use of pre-filtered language material both in the language laboratory (in a 2 week phonetics pre-class to the regular language course for beginners) and in a home setting. Results from the student evaluation suggest that the use of electronically modified tapes providing students with a more focused perception of Russian sounds leads to an improvement in students' pronunciation and thus highlights the importance of concentrated listening for language learners.