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Email this article Reconsidering the Mechanism of Listening Comprehension: Integrating the Two-Phase Model, Three-Phase Model, and Working Memory
Abstract
This study addresses the inherent difficulty of second language (L2) listening, particularly its unobservable cognitive nature, by proposing an integrated model of listening comprehension. Previous research has developed two-phase models (perception and comprehension) and three phase models (perception, parsing, and utilisation), but their fragmented development has led to conceptual inconsistency. To resolve this, the present study integrates these models using working memory as a unifying framework, incorporating key components such as the phonological loop, central executive, and episodic buffer, along with the concept of perceptual sense units (PSUs). The proposed model clarifies how auditory input is processed from initial perception through linguistic analysis to higher-level meaning construction, demonstrating that these phases operate interactively rather than linearly. Furthermore, the model extends to include visual aids, highlighting the role of the visuospatial sketchpad in audio-visual processing. This integrated framework offers a more coherent and comprehensive explanation of listening comprehension mechanisms and provides practical implications for language teaching, such as improving instructional strategies and diagnosing learner difficulties. The study also identifies directions for future research, including the effects of working memory capacity and multimodal input on listening processes.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/j.2026.39.2.119-146
Date of publication: 2026-08-07 08:48:00
Date of submission: 2025-12-23 01:58:14
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