Pervasive CALL Learner Training for Improving Listening Profi ciency

As the amount of freely available online media increases, the need for preparing students to use such ma-terial effectively similarly grows. We report here on a study for developing a pervasive learner training component for an advanced ESL listening comprehension course to help course participants work effective-ly both during and after the course. The training includes technical, strategic, and pedagogical components informed by a set of learner training principles. We determine what students have internalized from the training, what we can learn from students ’ attempts to become more independent learners, and whether the benefit to students appears to be worth the cost, using data from pre and post surveys, student reports, stu-dent meetings, and an interview. We conclude that although there is considerable room for refinement of the process, the overall benefit to students is clear and does indeed outweigh the cost. Further exploration of learner training is therefore warranted.