Listening to Learn or Learning to Listen?

Successful listening in a second language is hard to achieve.

Listening marks the first step of language development for hearing individuals. As such, its importance in allowing the necessary input for language acquisition to take place should not be underestimated. We use listening in order to learn a language. On the other hand, listening is a difficult skill and often causes learners problems. Perhaps we need more of a focus on learning how to listen as well as using recordings to teach grammar and vocabulary.

The prevailing approach of setting gist tasks and comprehension questions leads to a strong focus on answers rather than the processes and strategies we need to arrive at these answers. Where learners don’t succeed, they are offered reassurance and told further practice are the best remedies. 

This workshop will explore a variety of other possibilities available for dealing with learner problems in listening, including activities to focus on decoding, receptive phonology and interpretation of message.