Reading while listening is a highly effective strategy for vocabulary acquisition and one that plays a massive role in the first phases of EPI’s MARS EARS sequence, namely in the Modelling and Receptive phases of the pedagogical cycle. In EPI we call Reading whilst listening Scripted Listening, and it is implemented first at sentence level and subsequently at connected text level with highly comprehensible input through a wide range of highly engaging activities such as ‘Spot the nonsense’, ‘Spot the intruders’, ‘Track the word/phrase/structure/ sound’, ‘Likely or Unlikely’, ‘Break the flow’, ‘Positive or Negative’, ‘One of three’, ‘Faulty transcript’, ‘Spot the missing details’, ‘Gapped dictation’, etc. Most of these activities involve high-pace interaction between the teacher ans the students, which makes the process more dynamic and enjoyable and, if it is done well and by the right person, usually prevents students from misbehaving.

This approach provides multiple benefits supported by research. Here are the key ones:

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1. Multi-Sensory Learning Enhances Memory Retention

• Key Finding: Engaging both visual (reading) and auditory (listening) senses leads to stronger memory retention. This dual modality reinforces neural connections, facilitating deeper cognitive processing.
• Research Evidence:
  • Mathias, B., Andrae, C., Schwager, A., Macedonia, M., & von Kriegstein, K. (2021) demonstrated that enriching novel words with sensorimotor information enhances memory outcomes compared to reading alone.
  • Source: Mathias et al., 2021

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2. Contextual Vocabulary Acquisition

• Key Finding: Encountering new words in context helps learners infer meanings and understand correct usage.
• Research Evidence:
  • Rapaport, W. J. (2005) emphasized that contextual vocabulary acquisition involves deliberate reasoning from textual clues and prior knowledge, facilitating deeper understanding and retention of word meanings.
  • Source: Rapaport, 2005

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3. Improved Pronunciation and Phonological Awareness

• Key Finding: Listening to correct pronunciation while reading aids in internalizing sounds and linking them to written words, enhancing phonological awareness. This is extremely beneficial when dealing with opaque languages like French, where the sound-to-spelling correspondence poses enormous challenges to many learners.
• Research Evidence:
  • Perfetti, C. (1985) indicated that integrating auditory and visual stimuli during word learning improves pronunciation and listening fluency, contributing to more effective vocabulary acquisition.
  • Source: Perfetti, 1985

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4. Reinforcement Through Repetition

• Key Finding: Simultaneous reading and listening provide repeated exposure to new vocabulary in varied contexts, reinforcing learning and aiding retention.
• Research Evidence:
  • Studies have shown that repeated exposure to words across different modes leads to better vocabulary acquisition and retention.
  • Source: PMC Article, 2022

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5. Enhanced Comprehension and Fluency

• Key Finding: Auditory input offers natural pacing and intonation cues, aiding comprehension and reading fluency.
• Research Evidence:
  • Research indicates that learners acquire vocabulary incidentally through listening to various input sources, such as songs and movies, which contributes to improved comprehension.
  • Source: PMC Article, 2022

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6. Increased Motivation and Engagement

• Key Finding: The combination of reading and listening creates an immersive and enjoyable learning experience, boosting motivation and engagement.
• Research Evidence:
  • This multimodal approach can make language learning more appealing, leading to sustained practice and exposure.

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7. Real-Life Language Exposure (when using audiobooks, podcasts, etc.)

• Key Finding: Audiobooks and podcasts expose learners to authentic language use, enhancing listening skills and cultural understanding.
• Research Evidence:
  • This exposure to natural language use in various contexts aids in developing a more nuanced understanding of the language.
  • No specific citation found; based on general linguistic theory.

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8. Faster Vocabulary Retention and Recall

• Key Finding: Words learned through dual modalities (reading and listening) are remembered more quickly and accurately.
• Research Evidence:
  • This approach leads to more efficient vocabulary retention and recall compared to single-modality learning.
  • No specific citation found; supported by cognitive science principles.

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Summary

Integrating reading and listening in language learning leverages multi-sensory engagement, contextual understanding, and repetition, making it a powerful method for vocabulary acquisition. This strategy is supported by extensive research showing its effectiveness for memory retention, comprehension, and overall language fluency. EPI teachers know this all too well, as in our approach the initial phases of the MARSEARS sequence are all about Scripted Listening, a technique which, through a combination of highly patterned and comprehensible input, input flood, input enhancement, repeated processing and task-essentialness, makes language learning more effective and engaging.