2002 Articles

Video Listening Tests: A Pilot Study

Wagner, Elvis

Listening has long been the neglected skill in second language acquisition research, teaching, and assessment. However, in recent years there has been an increased focus on L2 listening ability because of its perceived importance in language acquisition. The present study explored the listening process when the aural input was delivered through the use of video. Video texts were used because video allows listeners to perceive and process nonverbal information. A model of L2 listening ability was hypothesized and operationalized, and an assessment instrument was created. This video listening test was administered to 85 ESL students. The data from this test were then analyzed using reliability analyses and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The results seem to provide some evidence for the validation of a two-factor model of listening based on the ability to comprehend explicitly stated information, and the ability to comprehend implicit information in aural texts.