The Effect of Input Modality and Sensory Mode on L2 Listening Fatigue: A Case of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

The present research was conducted to examine the effect of different input modality interaction in L2 on listening fatigue. Eighty-six intermediate Iranian EFL learners selected through random sampling, after administering a paper-based TOEFL among an initial sample of 120 BA learners majoring in English language translation, took part in the study and were randomly assigned into three experimental groups. Three types of input modality treatments were given in the first phase. Group one received audio treatment (A), group two received video treatment (V) and group three was taught listening through audio-video-caption (AVC) treatment. A TOEFL listening test and a researcher-made validated listening fatigue questionnaire were utilized as pretest and posttest. Afterwards, during the qualitative phase, oral interviews were employed to elect 30 % of the participant’s’ attitudes about the effect of the received treatment on their listening fatigue. Using Two-way ANCOVA revealed that input modality had a very strong significant effect on listening fatigue reduction. Audio group had the best performance and AVC group had the least significant performance. These findings were also supported by a small qualitative phase and learners gave their positive support and attitude to audio input modality as the best. These findings have some pedagogical implications for teaching and learning an L2, the most important of which is finding the best match between input modality intervention and its sensory mode match to assist EFL learners both enhance their L2 listening comprehension and at the same time reduce their debilitative listening fatigue.