Listening comprehension: Its components and a model for testing

Abstract

In order to construct an adequate second language test for listening comprehension, a complete eonvnonential analysis of listening must be made. The following compon- ents of listening comprehension are proposed, based on a study of literature on speech perception in native speakers: perception of acoustic cues; expectancy for successive ele- ments; auditory memory; variety of language; and decoding. Two types of implications result from this study: l) irplications for course construction, and 2) implications for testing. The above features indicate what areas shoAild be stressed in second language aural comprehension coAirse material. Testing second language listening comprehension should consist of the combined sub-tests for each component. Test samples of each component are provided to indicate the form which a test would take for testing listening comprehension in English as a second language. The ideas, however, are applicable to second language testing in general.