Investigating the effect of subtitling on EFL learners’ listening comprehension ability

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of using subtitling toward EFL learners` listening comprehension ability. It is hypothesized that using subtitling in EFL classes will have a positive effect on students` listening comprehension ability. In order to test our hypothesis, a test was addressed to 15 Master1 students; all enrolled at the department of English, University of Mohamed Seddik BenYahia .Jijel. The participants were divided into three groups of five students each. Two groups were assigned to watch 20 minutes segment of the movie “Gone” with English and Arabic subtitles, one type of subtitles per one group. The third group was assigned to watch it without subtitling. After the viewing session, all the participants were tested on listening comprehension, content, vocabulary and called for interview. The finding revealed that the groups who watched the film with subtitling had a better score, especially in English subtitling. The average score on the content and vocabulary showed that English subtitling affected students’ comprehension of the content and vocabulary more than the two others. Finally, the participants believed that subtitling helped them develop their listening comprehension abilities. They also agreed on the necessity to provide English students with new technological devices (smart boards, recorders, free network) to reinforce the use of subtitling as a pedagogical support for both teachers and learner