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The Role of Media in Learning L2 in Blind Learners of English

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Bikić, Tea. (2015). The Role of Media in Learning L2 in Blind Learners of English. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of English Language and Literature. [mentor Geld, Renata and Hrvatić, Neven].

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to examine to what extent the blind use the media and how they can benefit from the presence of English in the media. The sample for the study consisted of 10 present and former learners of English, all with residual vision less than five percent. The instrument used in the study was a semi-structured interview in the Croatian language. Each participant was questioned individually and the study was conducted over the period of 6 months. The results showed that the participants use the Internet and radio in a much greater extent than print media and television, and that they were exposed to English primarily via the Internet. However, the participants were generally insecure about their language proficiency, which was shown to be one of the key reasons why they rejected the possibilities of acquiring English through the media. The results can be illustrated by the term vicious circle, i.e. the blind participants are turning down many opportunities to be exposed to English out of school because they are insecure about their English language knowledge, and this exposure through media would eventually help them enhance that knowledge. It seems that the solution for this problem can only come from school – blind learners need more exposure to English through their L2 classes to become more comfortable with using and listening to English in their everyday life.

Item Type: Diploma Thesis
Uncontrolled Keywords: the blind, exposure to English, incidental vocabulary learning, the media and L2
Subjects: English language and literature
Pedagogy
Departments: Department of English Language and Literature
Supervisor: Geld, Renata and Hrvatić, Neven
Date Deposited: 09 Jun 2015 11:01
Last Modified: 09 Jun 2015 11:01
URI: http://darhiv.ffzg.unizg.hr/id/eprint/5309

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