Eye Tracking for Assessing Learners Behaviors and Proficiency Levels on EFL Reading

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02799
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Tokyo Denki University
• Principal Investigator: SHISHIDO Makoto 東京電機大学, システムデザイン工学部, 教授 (20247084)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 語学教育 / 教育測定 / 視線計測 / 英文読解 / E-Learning

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study was conducted to investigate whether eye tracking technology could be employed as an assessment of learners’ behaviors and proficiency levels on reading. Participants are Japanese university EFL students from three different proficiency levels of CEFR. Participants’ eye gaze records were analyzed and compared while reading essays for four different readability levels of reading materials. The results indicate that more advanced level students tend to show shorter period of fixations with certain rhythmical patters whereas lower level students expressed longer period of fixations with no particular patterns. As for the readability level differences, upper level students showed shorter period of fixations; however, lower level students expressed longer periods. Suggestions for E-Learning materials and tools to help students improve reading proficiencies are also introduced.

Free Research Field

英語教育