English Lab: Sanako listening!!

Software Package (Sanako)

This software package is “Sanako” which is in the CALL Lab at the Wollongong University College. The purpose of Sanako is to develop learner’s listening skill. The target group can be university students who study English in Japan. Sanako can be regarded as a practical software package because learners can listen to many types of listening practices such as lectures, News items, IELTS preparation and daily conversation, and it is easy for them to use it due to clear instruction. In addition, Sanako provides a lot of questions in different levels from beginner to advance. Therefore, it can be suitable to all learners even if they are in different levels. Furthermore, Sanako provides authentic listening practices. For example, it offers conversation between non-native English speakers and native-English speakers based on real-life conversation. Thus, the contents are authentic. Also, Sanako can pay attention to speakers. It does not focus on not only native speakers but also non-native speakers. Therefore, it can be considered that Sanako's contents are authentic from the aspect of EIL. On the other hand, Sanako has weakness about assessment and learners’ feedback. Sanako provides some questions and answers in listening practices, but only one answer is prepared for each question. Accordingly, learners may regard their answers as wrong answers even if their answers are correct. It might be necessary for teachers to check their answers. However, Sanako does not have positive feedback. In some questions, it provides only answers, so learners cannot review the questions. In order to prevent this issue, it needs some explanation for the questions and answers. This leads to voluntary and effective learning. In summary, Sanako has some critical problems such as assessment and feedback although it has some advantages about practicality and authenticity.