Auditory Short-Term Memory in L2 Listening Comprehension Processes

This paper discusses some of the general issues that involve the relationship between memory and L2 comprehension by focusing on the roles of auditory short-term memory (STM) in L2 listening processes. Specific research questions to be addressed here are: 1) What processes are involved in L2 listening comprehension?, 2) What roles does memory play in L1 and L2 listening comprehension processes?, and 3) What are the relationships between short-term memory (STM) and L2 learning? While examining the specific processes involved in L2 listening comprehension processes, this study argues that L2 listening comprehension is initially constrained by the limited capacity of auditory STM available, but its development can be enhanced through L2 syntactic exercises that focus on the structures. The teacher’s awareness of the role that memory plays in L2 listening comprehension processes, thus, seems to be quite important in providing more effective teaching activities in the classroom.