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Usage-inspired L2 Instruction: Researched pedagogy
Edited by Andrea E. Tyler, Lourdes Ortega, Mariko Uno and Hae In Park
[Language Learning & Language Teaching 49] 2018
► pp. 165–185

Chapter 8
Using metacognitive strategies to induce phase shifts

A complex systems approach to L2 listening instruction

| Northern Illinois University
| Purdue University

In this chapter, we critically self-evaluate a previously published study through the lens of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) theory. In this way we propose a Complex Adaptive Systems approach to second language (L2) language development in order to examine the effectiveness of explicit listening instruction and metacognition. We do this by conceiving of problems in listening comprehension as attractors in the state space of L2 language development and interpreting explicit instruction as a way of inducing a phase shift. The original study used a traditional pretest-posttest design to evaluate the effectiveness of a teaching method using metacognitive listening strategies and audiovisual media. We present the original design and results, discuss why this method is insufficient for considering language from a usage-inspired complexity perspective, and offer some suggestions for how it may be re-conceptualized via CAS theory. We argue that a complex systems perspective allows for more freedom in interpreting results by taking into account the nonlinear nature of language development and its inherent variability.

Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Complexity theory and language development
  • Critical features of complex systems
  • Systems and timescales in L2 instruction
  • Complexity theory, listening, and metacognition in the classroom
  • The original study
  • A critical self-analysis using complexity theory: Design problems from a complexity perspective
  • Re-conceptualizing the research questions
  • Designing studies and interpreting results with CAS theory
  • Conclusion
  • Note
  • References
Published online: 13 February 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lllt.49.08bec
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Cited by

Cited by 2 other publications

Dickinson, Paul
2020. Understanding participation in CALL vocabulary tasks through complexity theory. In CALL for widening participation: short papers from EUROCALL 2020, ► pp. 57 ff. DOI logo
Godwin-Jones, Robert
2019. Re-orienting CALL through the lens of complexity theory. In CALL and complexity – short papers from EUROCALL 2019, ► pp. 151 ff. DOI logo

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