The Impact of Task Types on Listening Comprehension of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

Hooshang Khoshsima,Ziba Sadighi Tasuj

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.3n.3p.97

Abstract

This study investigated the difference of five task types applied in Task-Based Instruction (TBI) on intermediate-level EFL learners’ listening comprehension ability. To this end, 31 intermediate EFL learners were given five task types of matching, selecting, role-playing, note-taking and completing. Their proficiency and listening homogeneity was ensured using an institutional TOEFL test and the listening paper of FCE. Then, they enjoyed TBI through implementing the task types for about ten 20-minute sessions. The results of the different tasks were analyzed to find out what task was the most effective. The results indicated that the learners outperformed in the two tasks of note-taking and completing than in the first three tasks of matching, selecting and role-playing, but there was no significant difference among the three tasks of matching, selecting and role-playing (p > 0.05), neither was there any significant difference between the two tasks of note-taking and completing (p > 0.05).

Highlights

IntroductionThe foremost problem appears to be how to prepare efficient listeners to be able to handle the real-world listening properly
There are strong barriers that interfere in students’ listening comprehension
In a study by Bahrami (2010) the impact of task types on the learners of different levels was investigated and the results showed that the matching, labeling, and form-filling tasks showed some degrees of effect on improving the listening comprehension of the learners at the intermediate level but the selecting task was not as effective as other tasks

Summary

Introduction

The foremost problem appears to be how to prepare efficient listeners to be able to handle the real-world listening properly. At first, both learners and teachers tended to neglect the value of listening comprehension skill because they mainly focused on other language skills, especially speaking, and listening comprehension was an internal activity with no obvious immediate output. As in creating a message, the speaker exploits the world knowledge and linguistic knowledge, in recreating that message, the listener applies the same type of knowledge to transform the message into thought. Considering the crucial role of listening in successful oral communication, this study was designed to examine the different effect of five task types applied in TBIon improving intermediate-level EFL learners' listening comprehension ability

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion