Development of a Mobile Application for Listening and Scaffolded Autonomous Summary Speaking and Its Effectiveness for Increasing Fluency

Abstract

Although summarizing English texts is an effective method for improving English speaking skills, it is difficult for learners to use this approach through self-study without teachers' support. In this study, we developed the Mobile Application for Listening and Scaffolded autonomous summary speaking (MALS) and evaluated its effectiveness for increasing oral fluency. MALS offers not only a summary speaking task but also scaffolding practice that decrease the cognitive load of summarizing by facilitating learners in confirming the summary points and the recommended words. The results showed that (1) the scaffolding enables learners to do a summarizing task in their self-study, and (2) MALS is effective for not only increasing the number of non-repeated words and decreasing silent time but also decreasing frequency of repair. Hence, MALS compares favorably with reading aloud activities that are judged effective for only increasing the number of non-repeated words and decreasing silent time.