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The role of digital video media in second language listening ...

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present, some theorists (e.g., Chun & Plas, 1997; Kramsch & Anderson, 1999) seethe basis <strong>of</strong> theory regard<strong>in</strong>g the comprehension <strong>of</strong> complex <strong>digital</strong> <strong>media</strong> as anextension <strong>of</strong> first and <strong>second</strong> <strong>language</strong> read<strong>in</strong>g literature. On the other hand, otherresearchers (e.g., Rub<strong>in</strong> 1995a; Gruba, 1997) see a departure based on listen<strong>in</strong>gtheory to be the more defensible position. Although both positions may have equalmerit, the breath <strong>of</strong> review that would be required to expla<strong>in</strong> each body <strong>of</strong> workwould exceed the scope <strong>of</strong> the present study. To limit it was decided to base anyreview <strong>of</strong> current theory primarily on <strong>in</strong>vestigations that were related to <strong>second</strong><strong>language</strong> <strong>video</strong> and listen<strong>in</strong>g. Two central reasons <strong>in</strong>fluenced this decision: 1) atpresent, there are more studies that associate the use <strong>of</strong> dynamic visual <strong>media</strong> withthe skill <strong>of</strong> listen<strong>in</strong>g comprehension as opposed to read<strong>in</strong>g comprehension; and 2)cognitive processes differ when <strong>in</strong>dividuals attend to dynamic visual <strong>media</strong>, such asthose found <strong>in</strong> <strong>video</strong>texts, from those processes that occur when persons attend tostatic visual <strong>media</strong> as are found <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ted texts and graphics (Wetzel et al., 1994).To bolster the primary focus on <strong>second</strong> <strong>language</strong> <strong>video</strong> and listen<strong>in</strong>g theory, thetheorectical basis <strong>of</strong> the study also draws on work grounded <strong>in</strong> first <strong>language</strong><strong>in</strong>structional <strong>media</strong> theory, cognitive processes related to visual process<strong>in</strong>g andresearch that supports constructivist perspectives <strong>of</strong> comprehension behaviour.Overview <strong>of</strong> the study<strong>The</strong> <strong>in</strong>vestigation is organised <strong>in</strong>to six additional chapters. <strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> ChapterTwo is to establish a historical perspective for the study, exam<strong>in</strong>e current theoryrelated to <strong>video</strong>-<strong>media</strong>ted listen<strong>in</strong>g comprehension and assess the benefits andlimitations <strong>of</strong> possible methods <strong>of</strong> appropriate <strong>in</strong>vestigation. Chapter Three providesa site description, sets out the criteria for the selection <strong>of</strong> three NHK news clips andanalyses the chosen <strong>video</strong>texts <strong>in</strong> detail. Chapter Four describes a pilot <strong>in</strong>vestigation,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>in</strong>struments, participants and procedures used to explore prelim<strong>in</strong>aryissues. Based on an extended analysis <strong>of</strong> the pilot data, a tentative framework forunderstand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>itial listen<strong>in</strong>g processes is proposed. In accordance with6

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