The effects of input enhancement and interactive video viewing on the development of pragmatic awareness and use in the beginning Spanish L2 classroom

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorKoike, Dale Aprilen
dc.creatorWitten, Caryn Marieen
dc.date.accessioned2008-08-28T21:44:14Zen
dc.date.available2008-08-28T21:44:14Zen
dc.date.issued2002en
dc.descriptiontexten
dc.description.abstractThis study presents research on L2 pragmatic awareness and use by beginning learners of Spanish. It tests a specific instructional methodology based on linguistic theory, such as Schmidt’s (1993) Noticing Hypothesis. Questions are addressed concerning the role of conscious awareness in learning L2 pragmatics, how interactive video viewing can enhance pragmatic input, and effects on global comprehension. While viewing a video series, 62 participants were asked to find examples of speech acts corresponding to those in their L1 and to note contexts in which the Spanish second person singular was used. Instead of form-focused treatments, a control group viewed the series and later completed plot-oriented treatments. Following nine assignments, all participants responded to three instruments. A written instrument examined learners’ awareness of L2 pragmatics, attitudes toward the video component of the course, the time dedicated to this component, and global comprehension. An oral role-play involving situations seen in the video was also administered, and a multiple-choice task was completed to determine participants’ recognition of appropriate forms. Data analysis on all items concerning pragmatics, regardless of task, indicated statistical significance favoring the test group. The test group performed significantly better on the written task and displayed a somewhat more positive attitude toward the video component of the course. The test group reported dedicating significantly more time to this component of the course and demonstrated slightly better global comprehension. Attitude and time on task were considered possible intervening variables influencing performance. Results of the oral task showed some positive trends, but no statistical significance, while results from the multiple-choice task did not reflect a difference between the two groups. Analysis of individual items from the feedback revealed a pattern of better performance by the test group with second person address, an area that was repeatedly enhanced. Data for individual speech acts suggest that L2 learners are active participants in the learning process who seem more cognizant of features that are more salient to them. Speech act findings may also indicate that some features are more easily assimilated than others and that the Noticing Hypothesis does not apply equally to all pragmatic material.
dc.description.departmentSpanish and Portugueseen
dc.format.mediumelectronicen
dc.identifierb57345958en
dc.identifier.oclc57141259en
dc.identifier.proqst3108535en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/1050en
dc.language.isoengen
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.en
dc.subject.lcshSpanish language--Study and teaching (Higher)--Foreign speakersen
dc.subject.lcshSpanish language--Acquisitionen
dc.titleThe effects of input enhancement and interactive video viewing on the development of pragmatic awareness and use in the beginning Spanish L2 classroomen
dc.type.genreThesisen

Files

Collections

University of Texas at Austin