Instructional plan effectiveness using distorted audio transcription during early stages of adults learning a foreign language

The purpose of the study was (a) to develop level-appropriate distorted audio materials for early-stage learners of Hebrew and (b) to evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed instructional plan to help such students in the transcription of these distorted materials. The study was qualitative; however it involved the use of mixed methodology. The qualitative part of the study used students' weekly feedback regarding their experience in the task of transcribing audio files. The quantitative part analyzed the transcriptions and produced numerical values. Due to the small sample of population, all results are qualitative and describe trends. The main results show that (a) the developed auditory instructional materials are efficient and, using the suggested methods, it is possible to produce an unlimited amount of realistic, authentic-sounding and level-appropriate auditory materials for teaching; and (b) the suggested teaching plan used with these materials is effective and improves students' proficiency in transcription. A future implication of this research is that it is now possible to introduce level-appropriate, distorted auditory materials to adult students in the early stages of learning a foreign language. This can be readily accomplished---at zero cost---with existing human resources using existing tools to adapt current curricular materials and formulate a tailored instructional plan applicable to students of all languages.