Integrating Somatic Methods through Hand Kinesthetic Activities to Enhance Chinese Listening Efficacy: A Dual Coding Theory Perspective Rizky Wardhani (a*), Yumna Rasyid (b*), Ratna Dewanti (c*)
(a,b,c) Universitas Negeri Jakarta
Abstract
Mastering Chinese listening comprehension remains a significant challenge for learners due to the complex tonal system and homophonic nature of the language. Traditional auditory-heavy methods often fail to create lasting mental representations, leading to low listening efficacy. This study explores the integration of somatic methods, specifically through hand kinesthetic activities such as manual summarization, to bridge this gap. By utilizing Dual Coding Theory, the research examines how simultaneous verbal (auditory) and non-verbal (motor-kinesthetic) processing enhances the learners listening experience. This study employed a qualitative descriptive approach to provide an in-depth exploration of how learners interact with somatic-kinesthetic strategies. Participants engaged in hand-written summarization synchronized with contextual audio from platforms like ChinesePod, Youku.com, or Text-to-Speech apps. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and document analysis of the written summaries. The analysis focused on the learners perceptions and the challenges encountered during the practice. findings reveal that hand kinesthetic activities act as a ^cognitive anchor,^ allowing learners to better segment auditory input and internalize tones. The dual-channel encoding linking auditory stimuli with tactile-motor output or retelling on the paper with handwriting was found to reduce cognitive anxiety and increase engagement. The discussion highlights that this somatic approach transforms listening from a passive reception into an active, multisensory construction of meaning, fostering higher confidence in Chinese listening comprehension.
