Effects of Language Proficiency on Attention Patterns in English Audio Sentences
Author Information
Author(s): Mei Yunhao, Chen Fei, Chen Xiaoxiang
Primary Institution: School of Foreign Languages, Hunan University
Hypothesis
Non-natives with lower language proficiency should not make a proper perceptual segmentation of English audio sentences.
Conclusion
Chinese learners of English did not perform a normative segmentation, indicating that English proficiency affects perceptual segmentation and memory.
Supporting Evidence
- Chinese learners of English showed different attention patterns compared to native speakers.
- Higher language proficiency was associated with better recognition memory.
- Attention at segmentation boundaries did not correlate with memory for higher proficiency groups.
Takeaway
This study shows that how well you know English can change how you pay attention to and remember what you hear in English.
Methodology
Participants listened to English sentences and pressed a key when they heard a specific sound, measuring their attention at segmentation boundaries.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to participants' prior language learning experiences.
Limitations
The sample size was relatively small, and cultural differences may affect results.
Participant Demographics
30 Chinese learners with higher language proficiency and 26 with lower proficiency, aged 18-26.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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