Incorporating World Englishes into Shadowing Training

Abstract

Recently, researchers have focused on not only varieties of English (i.e., Englishes) but also learners' motivation towards learning, particularly with regards to their international posture. Understanding the concept of English varieties and improving English skills are of equal importance for learners of English as a foreing language. Although listening has been considered one of the most difficult skills for Japanese learners to acquire, shadowing has captured the attention of researchers for the past 15 years as one of the most effective training methods for improving listening comprehension. Thus, this study examined whether the incorporation of multiple Englishes into shadowing training is effective for language learning and whether learners' level of international posture lead to improvement in their listening comprehension skills. A total of 47 Japanese university freshmen participated in this experiment. A textbook with a CD containing various Englishes and eight lessons was given to students in this study. The results show that shadowing training by using various Englishes is effective for improving learners' comprehension skills. The results also suggest a positive relationship between listening comprehension skills and higher international posture among learners.