Effect of English Text Speed Reading Training on English Listening Comprehension for Japanese University Students : Comparison to Dictation Training

抄録

This study investigated the effect of speed reading training on the listening comprehension skills of Japanese English learners. The participants involved were 42 university students placed under two class conditions: a speed reading group (N=24), and a dictation group (N=18). In addition to their usual classes, the speed reading group received 10 minutes of speed reading training once a week, and the dictation group received 10 minutes of dictation training once a week. The training sessions lasted for eight weeks. Pre- and post-listening tests were conducted for both groups before and after the training. The results of the t-test showed that the difference between pre- and post-test scores was statistically significant in the speed reading group. However, in the dictation group, the difference in the scores of pre- and post-test was not statistically significant. These results showed that speed reading training has a positive effect on listening comprehension in a foreign language learning setting.