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Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) Volume 15. Number 2, June 2024 Pp.101-117
Department of Global Communications and Applied English
I-Shou University, Taiwan
This study investigated the impact of wearing masks on students’ English listening and speaking performance in a classroom setting. The study was conducted with 30 first-year students of a practical English course at a southern Taiwan science and technology college. The class was designed using social-cognitive tools and profession-related podcasts to reduce interference from wearing masks. The study tested the impact of wearing a medical mask and a transparent mouth mask on students’ motivation, anxiety, and clarity of message communication. Students believed wearing a medical mask and a transparent mouth mask had a stronger motivation to learn, but their classroom anxiety was insignificant. The course used selective podcasts and online voice recording exercises to make students respond more positively. Students were more capable of changing the negative external factors of mask-wearing for their precision English communication. However, students generally did not agree that the use of transparent mouth masks affects the clarity of English communication. Based on this study, the practical English course design and teaching experiences for students’ learning needs in mask-wearing circumstances of English teaching environment can further benefit future research.
Keywords: masks wearing, the pandemic, podcast, social cognitive tool
Wu, Chia-Pei (2024). Research on Improving the English Listening and Speaking Ability Development of College Students Wearing Masks During the Pandemic. Arab World English Journal, 15(2), 101-117.
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Dr. Chia-Pei Wu is a Global Communications and Applied English Department assistant professor at I-Shou University. She has taught reading, business English, and academic writing in Taiwan. Her primary research interests include academic writing, computer-assisted language learning, and reading instruction. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5981-192X