A Study on the English Listening Comprehension Process of Middle School Students from the Perspective of Attention Control Theory

Abstract

With the increasing emphasis on English learning, listening comprehension has become a core component of language acquisition for middle school students. According to the theory of attention control, listening comprehension is not merely a process of decoding linguistic input but also a cognitive task involving the regulation of attention. Middle school students often encounter challenges such as linguistic complexity and background noise during listening tasks, and effective attention control can help them cope with these difficulties and enhance their comprehension. This paper analyzes the fundamental concepts of attention control theory, explores the role of attention regulation in listening comprehension, and proposes training strategies to optimize listening performance. Research findings indicate that attention regulation ability directly affects listening comprehension outcomes, and task design combined with attention training can significantly improve student performance. This study provides both theoretical support and practical guidance for English listening instruction in middle schools.