The multidimensional effects of extensive listening on EFL learners

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v5i1.21190

Keywords:

ELT, extensive listening, listening and viewing, second language listening

Abstract

This study investigated the multidimensional effects of extensive listening (EL) on learners’ actual language gains, selection of study materials, and practice styles. Language gains were measured through a pre- and a post-test on students’ aural vocabulary test (Listening Vocabulary Levels Test, LVLT) and general listening comprehension (TOEIC), administered before and after the intervention. Fifty-five university student participants took part in the four-month experiment; they were entirely free to select their favorite study materials online or off-line. The results showed that each student spent an average of 1,387 minutes (approximately 87 minutes per week) doing EL practice. The three most popular study materials were the following: Songs (63.64%), movies (49.09%), and talks (43.46%); materials were mainly from YouTube (74.55%), Netflix (49.09%), and other miscellaneous sources (43.63%). Their practice style was unanimously a combination of viewing and listening. From the pre-tests to the post-tests, students made significant gains in both LVLT and TOEIC, but the effect sizes were small. Some suggestions are made for implementing EL.

Author Biography

Willy Ardian Renandya, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

Willy A Renandya is a Principal Lecturer at the ELL Department, National Institute of Education, Singapore. Prior to his current position, he taught at SEAMEO RELC, Singapore, where he also served as Head of the Department of Language Education and Research. He has taught in many parts of Asia, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. He is a frequent speaker at language conferences in the Asian region.

He holds an MA in TESL and a PhD in Educational Psychology. His teaching and research interests include second and foreign language pedagogy, extensive reading, language testing and curriculum development. He has published research articles in various journals, authored an ESL textbook, and edited numerous books and anthologies. His latest publications include Motivation in the language classroom (2014, TESOL International), Simple, powerful strategies for Student Centered Learning with George Jacobs and Michael Power (2016, Springer International), and English language teaching today: Linking theory and practice with Handoyo P Widodo (2016, Springer International).

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Descriptive statistics for the total time, total times and practice types of EL

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Published

2023-12-30

How to Cite

Chang, A. C.-S., & Renandya, W. A. (2023). The multidimensional effects of extensive listening on EFL learners. Journal of Research on English and Language Learning (J-REaLL), 5(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.33474/j-reall.v5i1.21190

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2024): Journal of Research on English and Language Learning (J-REaLL)

Section

Invited Articles

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Copyright (c) 2023 Anna C-S Chang, Willy Ardian Renandya

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