Computer Mediated Diagnosis and Enhancement of L2 Learners Listening Abilities

Dynamic Assessment DA overcomes the assessment instruction dualism by integrating them according to the principle that mediated interactions simultaneously reveal and enhance learners abilities. Mediation with its central role in Sociocultural theory SCT is referred to as any kind of support in the form of hints through dialogic interaction 1.This study seeks to discover the effect of standardized mediation on EFL learners listening comprehension. The study relied upon 2 Vygotskys notion of Zone of Proximal Development ZPD Browns 3 Graduated Prompt Approach and 4 developed computerized model of dynamic assessment CDA to construct assessment sessions. After holding a QPT test 100 out of 140 lower intermediate EFL students from Afarinesh Mehr English Language Institute in Babol were selected to participate in this study. Based on 5 a hierarchical array of mediations ranging from the most implicit to the most explicit was presented to the students during listening comprehension tests. Students NDA and DA scores were calculated following 6. A perception questionnaire was presented to the students regarding their attitude towards the CDA listening test. Results of qualitative and quantitative data analyses revealed that the offered mediations resulted in significant changes in the listening ability of the learners and improved their ZPD in listening comprehension. Comparison of the means of NDA and DA scores showed that the participants improved as a result of mediations. Moreover, the CDA procedure revealed intriguing information about learners surfaced abilities and underlying potential.