The Effects of Listening Comprehension on ESL Learners’ English Language Proficiency

Abstract

Literature on Second Language Acquisition indicates positive effects of listening comprehension on ESL learners’ English language proficiency. This study is based on the point of view that listening comprehension is one of the most important yet neglected communicative componential requirement for second language acquisition. This mixed- methods cross-sectional study aims to gauge the effects of listening comprehension on ESL learners’ English language proficiency, measured by pre-test, and post-test paired samples t-tests results obtained from the sample IELTS language proficiency tests. The results show statistically significant effects of listening comprehension skills on the other language skills: reading, writing, and listening. The results also show that listening comprehension skills did not significantly improve the participants’ speaking skills. The paired samples correlations show the highest correlation between pre-test and post-test scores for speaking skills. In order to understand the contributing factor, the participants were observed. It was found that the participants cannot manage a constant flow of aural English language at a first encounter. The first linguistics features that made an impression on the participants were phonology, and the accents of the native speaker. The research findings confirmed the impact of listening comprehension on ESL learners’ English language proficiency.