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.
Highlights
IntroductionLearning the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writhing) is of utmost importance for second language learners nowadays
Learning the four skills is of utmost importance for second language learners nowadays
The present study aimed at exploring task-based listening activities and their role on improving the listening comprehension of Iranian IELTS candidates
Summary
Learning the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writhing) is of utmost importance for second language learners nowadays. Some researchers (Celce-Murcia, 1995; Hedge, 2000; Oxford, 1993) pointed out that in a communication, people usually spend around 45 percent of their time on listening, while only 30 percent on speaking, 16 percent on reading, and 9 percent on writing. This probably shows that input, which is mainly provided by listening, is the most important part of a communication
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