Issues in Applied Linguistics

The emergence of powerful computers in language testing permits the use of video media in second language computer assisted listening comprehension tests. Little research is available on what the effects of the video media are in listening comprehension test tasks. The present study examines two video formats (close-up view of the head of the lecturer, and full body view of the lecturer) and compares these to the audio-only format in a listening comprehension test setting. A simulated UCLA classroom lecture was videotaped and used, and one hundred and one students took the test. The aim of the research was to explore whether there were any performance differences when students took these tests in the different formats. The results of the present study show that the addition of the visual channel does not contribute to or take away from the performance in English as a second language listening comprehension test.