Controle inibitório, flexibilidade cognitiva e compreensão oral de inglês como segunda língua

Abstract

Listening comprehension is fundamental to language development. When learning a second language (L2), linguistic aspects, as well as cognitive and affective aspects interact in this process of developing listening comprehension in a foreign language (Dörnyei, 2009). Among the cognitive factors that influence and are influenced by the development of L2 are inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, two executive functions. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and listening comprehension in English as L2. Twenty-eight Elementary School students aged between 11 and 14 years old from a private school in Chapecó (SC) participated in this study. Data were collected using nine instruments: a biographical questionnaire; two tests of receptive vocabulary in English (Vocabulary Levels Test and Picture Naming Task); an English listening comprehension test; a listening comprehension test of Sandhi forms in English; two tasks to assess inhibitory control (a Stroop task and a computerized numerical Go/No go task); and two computerized tasks to assess cognitive flexibility (Wisconsin Sorting Card Test and Multitasking Task). The results showed significant correlations between listening comprehension in English as an L2 and: (a) receptive vocabulary in English; (b) inhibitory control; and (c) cognitive flexibility. The correlation between listening comprehension in English as an L2 and cognitive flexibility was more evident than the correlation with inhibitory control in the present study. The relationship between inhibitory control and listening comprehension was highlighted at a lower level of proficiency. Knowledge of receptive vocabulary in English correlated more clearly with inhibitory control than with cognitive flexibility. These findings indicate that both linguistic and cognitive aspects are interrelated in the development of L2 listening comprehension skills and language processing.