Improvement of listening comprehension in Portuguese as FL in technology-mediated communication contexts

Abstract

Listening comprehension has remained as a less-studied skill. In this context, new technologies are considered effective tools in its practice and development. Thus, it has been observed that languages which seemed to have a harder access, like Portuguese, are currently taught and learnt through these technologies. The aim of this work is to determine the improvement of listening comprehension in Portuguese as a foreign language on Spanish-speaking learners by carrying out cooperative tasks through the use of video blogs, forums and video communication. Specifically, the processing and understanding of explicit and implicit information. In order to comply this, an experimental study has been designed with a control group to measure before and after the intervention process. The obtained results confirm that the use of technology stimulates and benefits the development of listening comprehension, in comparison with the most traditional form of practice of this skill.