English listening comprehension is always bewildering for language learners. English language students are generally not taught
to recognize English in reduced forms (contractions) in verbal exchanges; they also lack opportunities for practicing listening
exercises in reduced forms of English vocabulary. This study developed a film based vocal language learning system working
with English reduced forms, thus enabling students to learn English in reduced forms. The film includes an abundance of learning
situations, which are easily learned from. Within this system, the learner can import subtitles from English films by themselves.
The system also automatically marks reduced English forms in verbal conversations, and offers many example sentences for listening
exercises. The system uses subtitles as the source of examinations for students after completing course sections. The system
can generate items from movie subtitles automatically, as well as evaluating learner performance. This study probes the effectiveness
of the aforementioned learning system as well as the user’s attitude and satisfaction with the system. The results show that
the learning system of English reduced forms in verbal conversations had a positive effect on the experimental group’s learning
which was significantly better than traditional film systems without English reduced form subtitles used by the control group.
Hence this system benefits students learning English contractions. In English listening tests, the results of experimental
group were significantly higher than the control group. The results of post-course survey showed positive satisfaction by
system users. All students using the system reported a positive attitude after using the system. The system can be improved
by enhancing the interfaces which broadcast the films and subtitles as well as increasing the course and experimental time
periods.
Keywords reduced forms - contractions - film based learning - listening comprehension - computer assisted language learning