The Effect of Task-Based Listening Activities on the Listening Comprehension: A Case of Iranian IELTS Candidates

Omid Ostad, Mohammad Tarang, Hamed Abbasi Mojdehi

Abstract


Listening skill has always been somehow a neglected area in the English teaching practice. Using contemporary ways, such as applying task-based instructions and activities in the classrooms, is proven to be helpful (Cubillo and Brenes, 2009; Nunan, 1999). The present study aimed at exploring task-based listening activities and their role on improving the listening comprehension of Iranian IELTS candidates. To this end, 40 learners (14 male and 26 female, aging 21 to 43) in IELTS preparation courses were selected form Sama IELTS Centre in Rasht, Iran. After Oxford Placement Test (OPT), the participants were randomly divided into two parallel classes (20 in each). Both groups took a sample of IELTS listening test, which comprised of 40 items in four sections as the pre-test, and another sample test at the end of the study, as the post-test. Accordingly, the experimental group received the treatment (task-based listening activities). The control group, on the other hand received the placebo, i.e. the traditional practice of re-listening, pausing, and answering the questions. The statistical analyses of the results revealed that the experimental group had outperformed the control group in the posttest.

Keywords


Task-based Listening Activities, Listening Comprehension, Iranian IELTS Candidates

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aitchison, J. (2007). The articulate mammal: An introduction to psycholinguistics. Routledge.

Andon, N., & Eckerth, J. (2009). Chacun à son gout? Task‐based L2 pedagogy from the teacher's point of view. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 19(3), 286-310.

Asher, J. (1982). Learning another language through actions. Los Gatos Calif.: Sky Oaks.

Carless, D. (2002). Implementing task‐based learning with young learners. ELT journal, 56(4), 389-396. DOI: http://web.edu.hku.hk/f/acadstaff/412/2002_Implementing-task-based-learning-with-young-learners.pdf

Carless, D. (2003). Factors in the implementation of task-based teaching in primary schools. System, 31(4), 485–500. DOI: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.707.7508&rep=rep1&type=pdf

Celce-Murcia, M. (1995). Discourse analysis and the teaching of listening. Principle and practice in applied linguistics: Studies in honor of HG Widdowson, 363-377.

Cubillo, P. C., & Brenes, C. N. (2009). Using task-based instruction in an ESP course in the computer center at the University of Costa Rica. Actua lidades Investigativasen Educación, 9(1), 1-25.

Ellis, R. (2003). Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ellis, R. (2009). Task‐based language teaching: Sorting out the misunderstandings. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 19(3), 221-246. DOI: https://www.tplt.ac.nz/site/tpdl/files/Resources%20-%20documents/General/Task-based%20learning/Ellis%20TBLT%20sorting%20misunderstdgs.pdf

Field, J. (2008). Revising segmentation hypotheses in first and second language listening. System, 36(1), 35-51.

Flowerdew, J., & Miller, L. (2005). Second language listening: Theory and practice. Cambridge University Press.

Gilakjani, A. P., & Sabouri, N. B. (2016). Learners’ listening comprehension difficulties in English language learning: A Literature Review. English Language Teaching, 9(6), 123. DOI: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/viewFile/59636/31953

Graham, S., & Macaro, E. (2008). Strategy instruction in listening for lower‐intermediate learners of French. Language learning, 58(4), 747-783. DOI: http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/7993/1/strategyinstructionfinal.pdf

Hedge.T. (2000). Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom. Oxford University Press.

Izadpanah, S. (2010).A study on task-based language teaching: from theory to practice.US-China Foreign Language, 8(3), 47-56. DOI: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c0c0/90f594cd6b1d9bfdd16c15d1430e44c5d772

Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language learning. NY: Pergamon.

Larsen-Freeman, D., & Anderson, M. (2013). Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching 3rd edition-Oxford Handbooks for Language Teachers. Oxford university press.

Li, Y. (2000). Linguistic characteristics of ESL writing in task-based e-mail activities. System, 28(2), 229-245.

Littlewood, W. (2004).The task-based approach: Some questions and suggestions. ELT Journal, 58(4), 319-326.

Littlewood, W. (2007). Communicative and task-based language teaching in East Asian classrooms. Language teaching, 40(3), 243-249.

Luchini, P. (2009). Listening skills teaching: some pedagogical considerations. Iranian journal of language studies.

Lynch, T., & Mendelsohn, D. (2002). Listening. An introduction to applied linguistics, 193-210.

Mc Donough, K. & Chaikitmongkol, W. (2007).Teachers’ and learners’ reaction to a task-based EFL course in Thailand. TESOL Quarterly, 41(1), 107-132. DOI: http://www.personal.psu.edu/kej1/APLNG_493/old_site/mcdonough.pdf

Murphy, J. (2003). Task‐based learning: the interaction between tasks and learners. ELT journal, 57(4), 352-360.

Nunan, D. (1999). Second Language Teaching & Learning. Heinle&Heinle Publishers, 7625 Empire Dr., Florence, KY 41042-2978.

Nunan, D. (2005). An introduction to task-based language teaching (Nunan, 2004). The Asian EFL Journal Quarterly June 2005 Volume 7, Issue 1, 7(1), 25-28. DOI: http://www.asian-efl-journal.com/March_2005_EBook_editions.pdf#page=25

Oxford, R. L. (1993). Research update on teaching L2 listening. System, 21(2), 205-211.

Prabhu, N. S. (1987). Second language pedagogy (Vol. 20). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001). Approach and methods in language teaching: A description and analysis. Cambridge, London: Cambridge University.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2014). Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge university press.

Ridgway, T. (2000). Listening strategies—I beg your pardon?. ELT journal, 54(2), 179-185. DOI: https://bogglesworldesl.com/ed2/academiclistening/179.full.pdf

Rost, M. (1994). Introducing listening. Penguin.

Rost, M. (2002). Teaching and Researching Listening. London: Longman.

Rost, M. (2009). Teacher Development Interactive: Listening. White Plains. NY: Pearson Longman.

Skehan, P. (1996). Second language acquisition research and task-based instruction. In J. Willis and D. Willis (eds.). Challenge and Change in Language Teaching. Oxford: Heinemann. 17-30.

Skehan, P. (2003). Task-based instruction. Language teaching, 36(1), 1-14.

Tomlinson, B. (Ed.). (2013). Developing materials for language teaching. London: Bloomsbury.

Vandergrift, L. (1999). Facilitating Second Language Listening Comprehension: Acquiring Successful Strategies. ELT Journal, 53(3), 168-176. DOI: https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/33261970/facilitating_second_language_listening_comprehension.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1523541798&Signature=42bjtdeNluPtRri%2BMV%2Bq7x9V84A%3D&response-contentdisposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DFacilitating_second_language_listening_c.pdf

Vandergrift, L. (2004). Listening to Learn or Learning to Listen?. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 24, 3-25.

Willis, J. (1981). Teaching English through English (Vol. 8). Harlow: Longman.

Willis, J. (1996). A Framework for Task-Based Learning. Addison Wesley: Longman.

Ziane, R. (2011). The Role of Listening Comprehension in Improving EFL Learners’ Speaking Skill Case Study: Second Year Students (LMD) at Biskra University (Master's thesis).




DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.7n.5p.34

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2012-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD. 

International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature

To make sure that you can receive messages from us, please add the journal emails into your e-mail 'safe list'. If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox', check your 'bulk mail' or 'junk mail' folders.