HOW TO IMPROVE ENGLISH LISTENING SKILLS
FOR STUDENTS IN VIETNAM?
1. INTRODUCTION
Learning English is a complex process because learners must master four main
skills as listening, speaking, writing and reading. Besides, learners also . Mastery of
these skills is essential for effective communication. Listening, in particular, is crucial
as it enables individuals to acquire knowledge, understand language, and successfully
interact with others, especially in foreign contexts. Pollard (2008) identifies listening
and reading as receptive skills essential for language comprehension and interpretation.
Listening is more challenging for students than reading because they can more
easily recognize written words compared to spoken words. While reading allows for
the possibility of rereading to enhance understanding, listening provides only one
chance to comprehend the material, as it cannot be repeated. Both skills are receptive
language abilities, but they differ in difficulty levels, with reading allowing for
adjustments in pace while listening is set by the speaker or audio.
Vietnamese students often struggle with English listening comprehension due to
difficulty understanding fast speech and distinguishing sounds. Unlike reading,
listening requires simultaneous interpretation of vocabulary, grammar, and meaning,
making it a challenging process. To improve this interactive skill, increased effort,
practice, and a supportive environment are essential. According to Hattani (2018),
modern education aims to enhance both academic skills, such as critical thinking, and
social skills, like cooperation and creativity, to meet 21st-century demands.
One of the reasons why students have difficulty listening to English is that they
only hear it once and cannot repeat it. To reduce students' problems in learning English,
especially in relation to listening, teachers must be able to create favorable conditions
in the teaching and learning process so that students can easily understand and use
English.
Some problems that learners face in teaching the listening process are the fear of
making mistakes, learners are also confused about what they are learning or need to
check a word in the dictionary. So far, one thing that is very important is the lack of
motivation. Learners stop studying because the material is monotonous.
Utilizing appropriate methods and materials can enhance learners' interest and
motivation in studying English. Videos serve as a valuable tool for developing various
language skills, including speaking, listening, and pronunciation, while also fostering
authentic vocabulary growth. Additionally, reading and writing activities can be
integrated with video content, helping to inspire and engage students, ultimately
leading to improved learning outcomes.
Harmer (2003) highlights the advantages of using video in language learning,
emphasizing that it allows students to both hear and see the language. Videos enhance
interest and motivation, provide context, and serve as specific stimuli, which aids
comprehension through visual cues such as expressions and gestures that convey
meaning and mood.
Vocabulary is also an important part of listening well in English because if
students do not have a lot of vocabulary, they will not be able to express themselves.
From there, students should improve their vocabulary to improve their listening skills
in English.